EBON  AND  GOLD 


BY 

C.    L.    M. 


"  There  are  no  shadows  where  there  is  no  Sitn ; 
There  is  no  beauty  where  there  is  no  Shade  ; 
And  all  things  in  two  lines  of  glory  run, 
Darkness  and  light,  Ebon  and  Gold  inlaid." 


FABER. 


NEW    YORK: 

G.    W.    Carkton    &?   Co.,    Publishers. 

LONDON:   S.   LOW,   SON  &  CO., 
M.DCCC.LXXIV. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1874,  by 

G    W.   CARLETON  &  CO., 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


JOHN  F.  TROW  &  SON,  PRINTERS, 
205-213  EAST  I2TH  ST.,  NEW  YORK. 

Maclauchlan,  Stereotyper, 
146  &  147  Mulberry  St.,  near  Grand,  N.  T. 


To 


WHOSE    LOVING-KINDNESS    HAS    MADE    MB    FORQET 

LIFE'S    EBON  IN   ITS    GOLD, 

» 

THIS   BOOK   is   DEDICATED 

BY    THE 

AUTHOB. 


878903 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER 

PAGB 

I        . 

.       .        .           9 

II            ........ 

.      18 

m    

27 

IV        ........ 

.      39 

v   .      

...         56 

VI                

.      66 

VII    

.       .        .          79 

.       .        .      90 

IX    

107 

X       

.        .119 

XI     

.        .        136 

xn     ....'.... 

.    143 

XIII     ...„••"•• 

162 

XIV         

.     171 

XV             

.       .        .        193 

viii  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XVI      ...........     210 


XVH 

xvm 


XX 

XXI 
XXH 


EBON  AND    GOLD. 


CHAPTER  I. 

"  O  Maiden,  vermeil  Rose  1 
Unplanted,  unsown, 
Blooming-  alone 
As  the  wild-flower  blows, 
With  a  will  of  thine  own ! 
Neither  grafted  nor  grown, 
Neither  gathered  nor  blown, 
O  Maiden,  O  Rose, 
Blooming  alone  I " 

OWEN  MEREDITH. 


JSS  MARSHY!  Miss  Marshy!  Miss 
Marshy  (in  a  gradual  crescendo) !  "  whar 
am  dat  chile  hiding  he' self,  wi'  ole  miss 
a-waitin'  for  her  dis  "bressed  minit,  and  me  a- 
callin'  till  dar  ain't  no  call  lef  in  me !  "  and 
good-natured  Aunt  Phillis  wiped  her  shining 

"black  face,    shaking  her  head  dolefully  at  the 
l* 


10  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

• 

wilfulness  of  her  troublesome  charge.  "Miss 
Marshy  ! ' '  she  began  again  ;  but  at  the  same 
moment,  she  espied  the  object  of  her  search, 
and  while  she  is  making  rapid  strides  towards 
her,  we  too  will  take  a  glance  at  the  truant. 

Snugly  ensconced  in  the  forked  limb  of  a  mag 
nificent  shade-tree,  she  sat,  so  intent  on  the  book 
clasped  in  her  hand,  as  to  be  utterly  oblivious 
of  everything  else.  Her  long  black  hair,  floating 
in  a  tangled  mass  about  her  shoulders,  gave  a 
somewhat  elfish  look  to  a  face  which,  while  it 
was  certainly  lacking  in  the  rosy  freshness  and 
rounded  outline  so  essential  to  childish  beauty, 
could  not  be  called  plain,  still  less  uninterest 
ing.  The  features  were  regular  enough  and 
finely  chiselled,  and  there  was  a  wondrous  transi 
tion  of  light  and  shade  as  they  caught  the  vary 
ing  expression  of  the  book  before  her.  But  the 
charm  of  her  countenance,  was  her  glorious 
eyes,  a  fact  which  we  recognized  at  once,  as,  in 
response  to  a  vigorous  punch  from  Aunt  Phillis, 
she  started  into  consciousness,  and  turned  them, 
albeit  somewhat  unwrathfully,  upon  her. 

"Come,  Miss  Marshy!  git  off  dat  roost!"  ex 
claimed  that  much-abused  individual ;  "  I'se  been 
a' most  screechin'  my  head  off  for  ye,  and  dar  ye 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  H 

set,  as  innocent  as  if  ye  was  as  deaf  as  ole  Uncle 
Mose.  I  wonder  if  ye' 11  make  out  to  hear  when 
de  Lord  Gabriel  blows  his  horn ! " 

"I  rather  think  the  matter  will  not  be  left  to 
my  choice,"  said  the  young  girl,  laughing,  her 
good-nature  completely  restored,  while  with  a 
bound  she  cleared  her  mossy  seat  and  alighted 
on  terra  firma.  "But  what's  the  occasion  of  all 
this  screeching,  and  why  could  you  not  leave  me 
to  enjoy  my  dear,  delightful  'Black  Prince'  in 
peace?"  and  she  glanced  regretfully  at  the  vol 
ume  of  Froissart  still  tightly  grasped  in  her  hand. 

"  Dear,  delightful  BlacJc  Prince  ! "  sniffed  Aunt 
Phillis,  holding  up  her  hands  in  holy  horror. 
"  Dat  beats  my  time  !  To  think  o'  a  young  miss 
a-readin'  •  and  a-studyin'  about  Black  Princes, 
when  dar's  plenty  o'  white  ones' 11  be  glad  enough 
to  run  after  her  when  she  gits  old  enough  to  'cour 
age  'em." 

"  But  I  doubt  if  any  of  them  are  half  as  grand 
as  my  Black  Prince  after  all.  But  where  is  this 
numerous  train  of  admirers  to  come  from  ?  Not  a 
masculine  ever  enters  our  gates  but  the  dear, 
good  old  priest  and  ugly  old  Monsieur  Moreau. 
Surely,  Aunt  Phillis,  he  is  not  one  of  your  white 
princes?" 


12  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

"Dat  poor  old  critter!  wi'  one  foot  in  the 
grave,  and  the  odder  jes'  a  gwine  !  No  indeed  ! 
But  bress  your  heart,  honey,  dars  plenty  o'  time. 
You  ain't  but  jes'  fifteen,  and  the  princes  are  sure 
to  turn  up  right  enough  when  you're  ready  for 
them  ! " 

"  Very  well ;  I  will  hope  so,  at  least,  for  I 
would  like  to  take  a  peep  outside  these  enchanted 
walls,  and  I  believe  princesses  are  generally 
supposed  to  do  as  they  please.  When  I'm  one, 
I'll  have  lots  of  books,  and  pictures,  and  stat 
ues,  and  a  great  organ  such  as  they  have  in  the 
grand  old  cathedrals  we  read  about;  and  I'll 
go  everywhere  and  see  everything.  And  Aunt 
Phillis,  you  shall  have  the  gayest  of  turbans, 
and  gold  ear-rings  that,  will  make  your  very 
mouth  water,  and  nothing  to  do  but  to  wait  on  me 
and  lord  it  over  the  other  servants." 

"And  won't  I  make  that  sassy  Chloe  stand 
around  ! "  exclaimed  Aunt  Phillis,  revelling  in 
implicit  faith  in  the  coming  Elysium.  "Yes, 
Miss  Marshy !  you  can  'fide  in  me  to  do  the  right 
thing.  Old  Phillis  knows  the  grand  ways  dats  fit 
for  princesses! " 

"And,"  continued  the  young  girl,  pursuin^ 
her  day-dream,  "  good  Father  Baptiste  shall  have 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  13 

a  new  suit  of  clothes  every  Christmas,  and  plenty 
of  money  for  his  poor  people,  and  a  set  of  new 
vestments  for  the  church.  As  for  grandma — " 

".Lord!  honey,  don't  mention  her,"  inter 
rupted  Aunt  Phillis  in  breathless  consternation. 
"How  she's  a- tearing  and  a-pitching  dis  berry 
minit.  She  sent  me  to  fetch  you  right  off,  and  I'  se 
done  been  a-talking  about  princes  and  princesses, 
and  sich,  till  I  clean  forgot  all  about  it ! " 

"My  grandma  sent  you  for  me!"  exclaimed 
her  young  mistress  in  a  tone  of  genuine  surprise, 
before  which  all  the  airy  castles  crumbled  at  once 
into  dust.  "  What  can  it  mean  ? "  she  added  bit 
terly,  "  for  she  is  more  apt  to  shun  than  to  desire 
my  presence." 

And  Marcia  Lyle  was  right.  Little  indeed  was 
the  love  and  few  the  caresses  lavished  on  her  by 
her  stern  old  grandmother.  Relentless  in  her 
pride,  she  had  never  forgiven  Marcia' s  mother  for 
marrying  the  handsome  and  talented  but  penni 
less  Robert  Lyle  ;  and  even  when  a  young  heart 
broken  widow  she  came  home  to  die,  leaving  the 
little  orphaned  Marcia  to  her  care,  she  showed  no 
sign  of  softening  or  remorse,  and  took  no  pains  to 
conceal  that  she  looked  upon  her  helpless  charge 
rather  as  a  burden  than  a  sacred  trust.  Indeed, 


14  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

the  poor  child  would  have  fared  Tbadly,  had  it 
not  been  that  the  servants,  who  still  cherished 
the  memory  of  their  lovely  young  mistress  and 
delighted  to  recall  the  days  of  her  splendor, 
were  more  than  ready  to  transfer  their  allegiance 
to  her  little  one.  Foremost  among  them  was 
Aunt  Phillis,  who,  having  been  the  nurse  of  the 
ill-fated  young  lady,  at  once  took  the  little 
Marcia  under  her  especial  protection  and  upheld 
her  in  everything  she  did,  good  or  bad,  even  in 
opposition  to  her  stern  old  mistress  herself.  Not 
that  the  old  lady  was  capable  of  positively  ill- 
treating  her  unwelcome  grandchild.  She  simply 
ignored  as  far  as  possible  her  very  existence  ; 
and  having  provided  amply  for  her  physical 
wants,  considered  her  duty  done,  and  left  her  to 
follow  her  own  -devices  with  but  the  one  condi 
tion,  that  she  was  not  to  be  troubled  with  the 
sight  of  her.  Indeed,  the  intense  bitterness  of 
Madaiae  Robiera's  nature  was  a  matter  of  wonder 
ment.  A  West-Indian  by  birth,  and  of  Spanish 
descent,  her  precocious  loveliness  early  attracted 
a  visitor  to  the  islands,  a-  native  of  New  York, 
whose  golden  charms  proved  all-powerful  with 
her  father,  and  she  was  wedded  at  an  age  when 
she  should  still  have  been  in  the  school-room. 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  15 

Vincent  Elmore  was  a  man  of  irreproachable 
integrity  and  undeniable  respectability,  but 
the  cold  northern  blood  in  his  veins  could  not 
keep  time  with  the  fiery  torrent  that  leaped 
and  surged  in  hers,  and  this  marriage  was 
a  most  unhappy  one.  Tyrannized  over  by  her 
husband,  frowned  at  and  tutored  by  his  relations, 
her  affections,  turned  back  on  herself  at  wery 
point,  became  a  lava- tide,  scorching  aria  de 
vastating  where  they  should  have  warmed  into 
life  and  verdure. 

Even  the  birth  of  a  little  son  failed  to  afford 
a  channel  for  her  pent-up  powers  of  loving. 
The  child  was  taken  from  her  and  put  out  to 
nurse,  and  when,  after  a  decade  of  stormy  years, 
a  fortunate  railroad  accident  released  her  from 
her  bondage,  she  could  feel  no  emotion  save 
rejoicing  at  her  freedom.  Now  she  would  claim 
her  child,  and  seeking  once  more  her  own 
dear  sunny  South,  court  the  happiness  of  which 
her  early  youth  had  been  so  pitilessly  defrauded. 
But  no  !  even  here  the  same  cold,  calculating 
policy  that  had  marred  her  life  still  pursued 
her.  A  carefully  attested  will  committed  her 
child  to  other  guardianship,  making  him  sole  heir 
to  his  father's  ample  wealth,  in  which  she  could 


IQ  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

claim  but  a  life-estate.  After  some  futile  attempt 
to  contest  this,  she  submitted  quietly  to  the 
inevitable,  and  meeting  shortly  after  with 
Signer  Robiera,  a  wealthy  Spanish  gentleman, 
she  married  him,  and  retired  with  him  to  his 
estates  in  Florida.  Here  at  length  happiness 
began  to  dawn  upon  her.  Her  husband  was 
tender  and  devoted,  and  soon  a  lovely  little  girl 
came  to  add  to  their  bliss.  But  the  serpent 
that  since  the  days  of  Eve  has  haunted  every 
earthly  paradise,  lurked  even  amid  this  Eden. 
A  malignant  fever  carried  off  the  fond  husband, 
and  henceforth  all  the  intensity  of  her  devotion 
was  concentrated  on  the  child  still  left  to  her. 

She  grew  up  a  marvel  of  beauty,  and  as  lovely 
in  heart  and  mind  as  in  person.  Suitors  wealthy 
and  noble  thronged  about  her,  but  she  looked 
upon  all  with  indifference,  until  Robert  Lyle, 
with  his  sunny  locks  and  broad,  fair  brow,  on 
which  intellect  sat  enthroned,  bowed  before  her. 
Then  her  woman-nature  responded  to  the  magic 
of  his  presence,  and  her  whole  heart  went  out  to 
him.  In  vain  her  mother  expostulated  ;  in  vain 
she  reprimanded  ;  in  vain  she  threatened  ;  in  vain 
she  sneered  at  his  pale  northern  blood,  and  poured 
out  on  his  devoted  head  the  bitter  hatred  of  years. 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  17 

"Love  was  stronger  than  hate,"  and  there  came 
a  morning  when  the  bird  was  flown,  the  golden 
cage  empty,  and  the  proud  woman  once  more 
desolate. 

From  that  time  she  denied  herself  to  all  visitors, 
and  closed  her  gates  alike  to  friend  and  foe.  A 
periodical  letter  from  the  son  at  the  north,  whom 
in  all  these  years  she  had  never  seen,  or  a  com 
munication  from  her  lawyer,  formed  her  sole  inter 
course  with  the  outer  world.  Feeding  upon  her 
own  bitterness,  shut  out  from  all  companionship, 
she  seemed  lost  to  all  kindly  or  tender  emotion. 
Even  the  sad  return  and  early  death  of  the  daugh 
ter,  once  her  heart's  idol,  apparently  aroused 
within  her  no  feeling  save  that  of  anger.  Prem 
aturely  old  and  withered,  she  retained  no  ves 
tige  of  her  early  beauty  but  the  dark  eyes,  which 
could  still  flash  with  the  brilliancy  of  youth. 
What  wonder,  then,  with  a  nature  thus  turned  to 
gall,  she  hated  and  shunned  the  child  of  the  man 
who  had  robbed  her  of  her  last  remaining  treasure ! 
And  what  wonder  that  after  all  these  years  of 
neglect,  Marcia  marvelled  at  a  summons  into  the 
presence  of  her  grandmother ! 


CHAPTER  II. 

"  For  the  ocean  is  broad,  and  the  wave  in  its  track 
Must  follow,  and  follow,  and  never  come  back  ! " 

H.  T.  STANTON. 


marvelled,  and  yet  she  lingered. 

A  strange,  weird  feeling  came  over  her ; 

a  vague,  half-conscious  presentiment  that 
she  was  leaving  her  wild,  free  life  "behind  her, 
and  impelled  her  to  pause  and  look  lovingly  upon 
the  fair  old  garden  which  had  so  long  been  her 
retreat  and  her  refuge.  The  noonday  sun  rested 
goldenly  on  the  gay  parterres,  where  the  rarest 
flowers  bloomed  and  exhaled  their  sweets  in 
tropical  profusion,  casting  its  lengthening  shadow 
on  the  time-worn ,  sun-dial,  and  lighting  up  even 
the  marble  Naiads  around  the  fountain  with  a 
semblance  of  life.  The  adjacent  orange  and  mag 
nolia  groves  freighted  the  air  with  their  intoxicat 
ing  perfume,  and  the  twittering  of  the  birds  and 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  19 

the  drowsy  hum  of  insects  made  themselves  heard 
above  the  hush  of  the  noontide  hour.  Marcia 
stood  awhile,  silently  drinking  in  all  this  "beauty 
and  sweetness,  and  then,  with  a  sigh,  half  of  en 
joyment,  half  of  regret,  she  turned  and  walked 
slowly  towards  the  house.  There  are  such  mo 
ments  in  the  lives  of  all  of  us.  Moments  that 
come  to  us  fraught  with  the  shadows  of  the  un 
tried,  far-reaching  future,  in  which  our  footsteps 
cling  lingeringly  to  the  verge  of  the  present,  re 
luctant  to  tempt  the  dim  unknown  before  us. 

Madame  Robiera  had  long  since  exhausted  her 
impatience  at  the  non-appearance  of  her  grand 
child,  and  now  sat,  stern  and  rigid,  awaiting  her 
arrival.  Even  in  the  midst  of  her  seclusion  she 
never  neglected  the  elegance  of  attire  befitting  a 
gentlewoman.  So  the  dress  that  enveloped  her 
wasted  form  was  of  the  richest  and  softest  satin ; 
the  ruffles  that  fell  over  her  withered  hands  were 
of  the  costliest,  daintiest  lace,  and  the  cap  that 
surmounted  her  blanched  but  still  abundant 
tresses  was  of  the  same  rare  material.  The  fiery 
lines  traced  by  a  stormy,  uncontrolled  temper, 
even  more  than  the  furrows  planted  by  sorrow 
and  disappointment,  effectually  marred  the  beauty 
of  features  which  had  once  been  perfect ;  and  as 


20  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

she  sat  there,  a  lonely,  unloved,  unloving  old 
woman,  she -inspired  the  sentiment  which  most  of 
all  she  would  have  scorned  and  rejected— -.pity. 
And  her  surroundings  were  like  to  herself :  God' s 
free  air  and  "blessed  sunshine  were  sedulously  ex 
cluded  from  this  apartment,  in  the  dim  twilight 
of  which  could  be  discerned  furniture  of  indis 
putable  antiquity  and  richness,  "but  unsuggestive 
of  comfort,  and  as  rigid  and  uncompromising  in 
detail  and  arrangement  as  the  stern  old  lady  her 
self.  The  silence  was  so  profound  that  one  might 
well  imagine  herself  transported  to  one  of  those 
enchanted  palaces  that  play  such  an  important 
part  in  all  old-fashioned  fairy  tales,  and  indeed, 
except  for  an  occasional  nervous  tightening  of  the 
clasped  hands,  no  fabled  princess  had  ever  fallen 
under  a  more  potent  spell  than  that  which  en 
thralled  the  presiding  genius  of  these  domains. 

At  least  some  such  idea  came  to  Marcia,  when, 
after  a  low,  hesitating  knock  which  elicited  no 
response,  she  opened  the  door  and  crossed  the 
threshold,  over  which  she  never  remembered  to 
have  been  summoned  before.  The  gathering 
gloom  and  intense  stillness  formed  such  a  marked 
contrast  to  the  bright  sunshine  and  teeming  life 
without,  that  no  wonder  she  stood  for  a  moment 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  21 

awe-stricken  and  irresolute  whether  to  advance  or 
retreat.  • 

But  as  she  stood  thus,  her  grandmother  turned 
her  head  and  said  harshly,  "  Who  is  there  ? " 

"It  is  I — Marcia,  grandma.  Aunt  Phillis  told 
me  that  you  wished  to  see  me." 

"And  a  pretty  time  you  have  taken  to  make 
your  appearance.  However,  I  must  acknowledge 
you  come  honestly  "by  your  wilfulness.  But  why 
do  you  stand  there  Iby  the  door?  I  am  not  an 
ogre,  that  you  should  be  afraid  of  me." 

"Afraid  of  you?  Why  should  I  be  afraid? 
True,  you  have  never  smiled  on  me,  never  given 
me  the  right  to  press  my  childish  lips  to  yours 
and  say  ' Hove  you;'  but  fear  is  for  the  coward 
or  the  slave,  and  not  for  Marcia  Lyle,  your  grand 
child!" 

"Indeed!  So  you  deal  in  heroics?"  But 
despite  her  supercilious  words,  a  gleam  of  some 
thing  akin  to  pride  and  even  tenderness  flashed 
across  the  old  lady's  face  as  she  gazed  on  the 
kindling  eyes  and  proud  bearing  of  her  grand- 
1  child. 

"Perhaps  I  do,"  said  Marcia  simply  ;  "for  all 
my  heroes,  all  the  brave  knights  and  faire  ladyes 
I  love  so  to  read  about,  have  always  despised  fear 


22  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

and  reverenced  courage  ;  but  grandma,  even  as  I 
despise  fear  do  I  adore  truth,  and  only  the 
thoughts  of  my  heart  find  utterance  at  my  lips." 

"That  is  all  very  well ;  "but  I  wonder  how  you 
came  by  such  lofty  sentiments.  Yon  certainly  did 
not  imbibe  them  with  the  cold  northern  blood  of 
your  fair-faced,  false-hearted  father." 

"Hold,  grandma!  respect  the  dead.  I  do  not 
say  that  my  father  did  not  wrong  you,  or  that  you 
have  no  right  to  think  of  him  with  bitterness  ;  but 
at  least  you  should  not  speak  of  him  thus  to  me — 
his  child.  That  he  was  false-hearted,  I  cannot  be 
lieve,  else  how  could  he  have  been  so  loved  by  one 
as  pure  and  gentle  as  my  mother.  O  grandma  ! 
perhaps  you  were  pitiless  ;  perhaps  you  frowned 
upon  them,  as  you  have  sometimes  frowned  on 
me  when  I  crossed  your  path  unbidden,  and  thus 
forced  them  from  you." 

"Hush,  child!  Beware!"  said  her  grand 
mother  hoarsely,  her  eyes  flashing  and  her  whole 
form  dilating  with  suppressed  passion.  "Since 
the  day  that  I  laid  my  child — your  mother — in  the 
grave,  no  one  has  dared  to  recall  the  miserable 
past.  I  warn  you  once  more,  beware  !  lest  I  curse 
you,  even  as  I  cursed  your  father." 

"  No,  grandma,  you  could  not  curse  me,"  said 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  23 

Marcia  passionately.  Even  if  you  could  feel  the 
curses  in  your  heart,  your  lips,  more  kind,  would 
refuse  to  utter  them.  But  why  will  you  not  let  me 
love  you  ?  I  am  so  young  and  yet  so  lonely  ;  I 
yearn  so  for  love,  and  in  all  the  wide  world  I  have 
none  but  you.  Cannot  all  this  lapse  of  years  blot 
out  the  wrong,  and  bring  back  the  time  when  my 
mother  sat  perchance  in  this  very  room  and 
looked  at  you  from  eyes  like  mine,  rejoicing  in  the 
caresses  for  which  I  plead  in  vain  ? " 

"No  !  a  thousand  times  no  !  "  said  the  old  lady 
vehemently.  "If  you  are  your  mother's  child,  I 
cannot  forget  that  you  are  also  your  father's. 
Years  cannot  quench  a  hatred  like  mine.  They 
but  add  fuel  to  the  flame.  I  will  not  again"  nurse 
into  life  the  viper  that  shall  one  day  turn  and  sting 
me.  Strange  as  it  may  seem,  I  once  trusted, 
hoped,  and  yearned  for  love  like  you  ;  and,  like 
me,  you  shall  live  to  learn  that  love  is  a  dream, 
hope  a  phantom,  and  faith  a  mockery." 

'  No  !  no  !  no  !  no  !  "  cried  Marcia,  shuddering. 
"  Refuse  my  love,  spurn  me  if  you  will ;  but  leave 
me  my  hope  and  my  faith.  Let  me  still  believe  in 
my  childhood' s  heroes,  and  dream  of  a  future  all 
sunshine  and  flowers." 

"Well,  dream  on.    No  doubt  the    awakening 


24  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

will  come  soon  enough,  without  my  assistance. 
But  have  you  no  curiosity  to  learn  why  you  have 
"been  summoned  here,  or  is  that  one  of  the  pas 
sions  too  ignoble  for  your  very  exalted  code  of 
honor?" 

"  On  the  contrary,  your  message  filled  me  with 
wonderment,  and  as  I  walked  to  the  house,  my 
only  thought  was,  '  What  can  my  grandma  have 
to  say  to  me  ? '  But  when  I  entered  this  room  and 
saw  you  sitting  alone  in  the  gloom,  I  forgot  it  all 
in  the  longing,  '  Oh,  if  she  would  only  let  me  love 
her!'" 

"Really,  your  rhetoric  does  you  credit,"  said 
the  old  lady  contemptuously.  "  I  sent  for  a  child, 
and  I  find  a  woman.  How  have  you  managed  so 
to  outgrow  your  years  ? " 

"  That  is  a  question  which  I  am  still  too  much 
of  a  child  to  answer,  unless  it  may  "be,  that  "being 
constantly  alone,  with  no  one  to  think  or  act  for 
me,  I  have  unconsciously  learned  to  think  and 
act  for  myself.  As  for  rhetoric,  I  know  nothing 
about  it ;  but  doubtless  my  manner  of  expressing 
myself  has  been  taken  from  the  books  that  are 
my  only  companions." 

"  And  you  may  be  thankful  that  they  are,"  re 
torted  her  grandmother.  ' '  But  why  am  I  prolong- 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  25 

'ing  an  interview  that  has  certainly  afforded  me  no 
pleasure  ? "  And  yet  she  paused  nervously  before 
she  continued :  "Have  you  ever  heard  that  your 
mother  was  not  my  only  child  ? " 

"Never!"  exclaimed  Marcia  in  extreme  aston 
ishment. 

"  And  yet  it  is  true — that  I  have  been  married 
twice,  and  that  I  have  a  son  by  my  first  marriage, 
who  has  always  resided,  and  who  is  still  resid 
ing,  at  the  North." 

"  But  why  does  he  never  come  to  see  you,  and 
why  have  I  never  heard  of  him?"  questioned 
Marcia  eagerly. 

"Ah,  there  is  the  cold  northern  blood  again," 
said  the  old  lady  bitterly.  "He  was  taken  from 
me  when  a  mere  infant,  and  brought  up  in  such 
total  disregard  of  the  tie  between  us,  that  doubt 
less  he  would  long  since  have  forgotten  my  very 
existence,  had  it  not  been  convenient  occasionally 
to  remember  it.  But  he  is  coming  at  last,  and  it 
was  to  tell  you  this  that  I  sent  for  you." 

"  But  when  ? "  asked  Marcia,  filled  with  bewil 
derment  at  the  suddenly  discovered  relationship, 
and  yet  vaguely  delighted  at  the  prospect  of  any 
break  in  her  monotonous  existence. 

"  He  was  to  have  left  New  York  on  the  thirti- 


26  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

eth,  so  lie  may  "be  expected  here  to-morrow ;  and  I 
hope  he  will  find  you  looking  less  like  a  wild 
Indian  than  you  do  at  present,  And  now  go, 
child,  go  !  I  would  "be  alone.  I  had  thought 
that  the  past  was  buried  and  forgotten ;  but  you 
have  evoked  phantoms  from  its  darkest  depths  to 
mock  and  haunt  me.  Go  !  "  and  with  an  imperi 
ous  wave  of  the  hand  she  motioned  Marcia  from 
her,  and  sank  back  in  her  chair  exhausted. 


CHAPTER  III. 

And  the  sweet  song  died,  and  a  vague  unrest, 
And  a  nameless  longing  filled  her  breast  — 
A  wish,  that  she  hardly  dared  to  own, 
For  something  better  than  she  had  known." 

WniTTEEK. 


JAR,CIA  left  her  grandmother's  presence  in 


a  state  of  the  wildest  excitement,  and  once 
beyond  the  depressing  influence  of  the 
shadowy  apartment,  her  imagination  busied  itself 
in  conjuring  impossible  pictures  of  the  uncle  whom 
she  had  never  seen,  but  whom,  with  the  impul 
siveness  of  her  ardent  nature,  she.  was  prepared  at 
once  to  welcome  to  her  heart  of  hearts.  For  once 
her  beloved  books  failed  to  charm  her,  and  she 
flitted  restlessly  about,  vibrating  between  the 
spacious  drawing-room  and  grand  old  dining-hall, 
which,  under  the  sliilful  manipulations  of  "  Sassy 
Chloe"  and  "Deaf  Uncle  Mose,"  were  undergoing 
a  thorough  airing  and  cleaning,  and  the  sunny 


28  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

west  chamber,  where  Aunt  Phillis  was  presiding 
over  a  similar  renovation,  till  she  drove  those 
worthies  to  the  verge  of  distraction. 

"  Lor'  !  Miss  Marshy,  honey,"  said  Aunt  Phillis 
imploringly,  "can't  ye  manage  for  to  sit  still  one 
mite  .of  a  minit  ?  Jes'  look  at  the  tracks  your 
bressed  little  feet  done  made  on  my  nice  floor,  and 
I'se  been  waxin'  and  a-rubbin'  till  de  lookin' -glass 
ain't  nowhere — not  dat  I  spec  young  marse  been 
used  to  much,  way  up  dar  at  de  Norf,  but  I  jes 
like  to  show  him  dat  we  darkies  know  what's 
what,  ef  our  skin  am  black  and  spotted  like  de 
leopard." 

"  O  Aunt  Phillis  !  Aunt  Phillis  !"  said  Mar- 
cia,  laughing.  "  I  am  sure  that  your  quotations 
from  Holy  Writ  would  astonish  good  Father  Bap- 
tiste  himself ; — but,"  she  added  contritely,  "  I  am 
sorry  that  I  made  tracks  on  your  floor,  which  does 
look  too  bright  and  too  pretty  to  be  spoiled.  But 
what  am  I  to  do?  I  cannot  sit  still,  and  I  don't 
want  to  go  in  the  garden  ;  Chloe  is  keeping  guard 
over  the  drawing-room  like  a  dragon,  and  when  I 
ventured  just,  now  to  peep  inside  the  dining-room, 
Uncle  Mose  looked  as  sour  as  a  vinegar-barrel." 

"  He  did !  "  said  Aunt  Phillis  in  a  rage,  forget 
ting  her  own  annoyance ;  "  I'll  larn  him  what  vin- 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  29 

egar-lbar'ls  is  made  for ;  and  as  for  dat  Chloe,  I'll 
let  her  know  dat  if  some  people  can  sot  up  for 
dragons,  dar  is  some  as  is  born  lions,  and  de  lions 
allus  Vours  de  dragons,,  head  and  tail." 

"Never  mind,  Aunt  Phillis,"  said  Marcia  sooth 
ingly  ;  "I  dare  say'I  was  in  the  way.  It  seems 
to  me  that  I  was  born  to  be  in  the  way.  I  won 
der,"  she  added  musingly,  "if  my  new  uncle  will 
think  so." 

"Lor'  !  chile,  don't  be  settin'  too  much  store  by 
dat  new  uncle.  I'  se  hearn  tell  o'  blood  as  is  thicker 
nor  water  ;  but  it's  my  'pinion  dat  dese  Yankees' 
blood  is  all  water.  Shoo  ! ' '  and  the  old  darkey 
gave  an  indignant  punch  to  the  bed  which  she 
was  robing  in  its  snowy  covering. 

"  I  am  sure  that  is  true  of  other  people  besides 
the  Yankees.  My  grandma  could  not  care  less  for 
me,  if  no  drop  of  her  blood  coursed  in  my  veins." 

"Now,  Miss  Marshy,  don't  be  a  talkin'  'bout 
her  blood  !  As  if  she  had  any.  Land  sakes  !  it's 
snow  ;  it's  ice  ;  or  if  dar's  anything  colder  up  yon 
der,  it's  dat  berry  thing.  Dem  Yankees  done 
froze  it  for  her  loog  ago." 

>  "Poor  grandma  ! "  said  Marcia,  half  to  herself, 
' '  how  I  would  love  her  if  she  would  but  let  me  ! 
My  very  heart  ached  for  her  to-day,  when  I  saw 


30  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

her  sitting  there,  looking  so  lonely  and  desolate." 
Then,  going  back  to  the  all-absorbing  topic,  "I 
hope  that  my  uncle  is  not  cold  and  stern  like  her. 
No  ;  I  will  picture  him  to  myself  kind  and  gentle. 
Perhaps  he  has  a  happy  home,  and  a  dear  wife,  and 
merry,  rosy  children — it  may  be,  daughters  like 
me — and  for  their  sakes  he  will  lay  his  hand  softly 
on  my  head,  and  speak  tenderly  to  me  who  have 
no  father ! "  and  she  fell  into  a  reverie,  which 
might  have  lasted  ad  infinitum,  had  she  not  been 
aroused  by  Aunt  Phillis  with  a — 

"Come,  Miss  Marshy  !  you  must  get  out  of  this. 
I'se  done  my  do,  and  now  I'se  gwine  for  to  shut 
up.  I  reckon  dey'se  got  nuffin  at  de  JSTorfdat'll 
take  de  shine  off  dis  'partment." 

And  very  inviting  it  looked,  with  its  cool,  pol 
ished  floor,  its  snowy  muslin  curtains  and  toilet- 
cover,  and  its  tempting  bed,  whose  spotless  linen 
was  redolent  with  a  faint  odor  of  crushed  rose- 
leaves.  The  wreath  of  eglantine  that  surmounted 
the  mirror,  the  sprays  that  confined  the  flowing 
curtains,  and  the  tastefully  arranged  flower- vases, 
scattered  here  and  there,  were  Marcia's  contribu 
tion,  permitted  under  protest  by  the  practical  and 
order-loving  Aunt  Phillis.  • 

The  long  day  wore  to  an  end  at  last,  and  not- 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  31 

withstanding  many  promises  to  herself  of  an  early 
rising,  the  sun  was  high  in  the  heavens  the  next 
morning,  when  Marcia  was  awakened  by  the 
hearty  voice  of  Aunt  Phillis  exclaiming,  as  she 
opened  the  shutters  and  let  in  a  flood  of  golden 
light,  "Bress  dat  chile!  am  she  gwine  to  sleep 
till  doomsday?" 

"No  indeed!"  said  Marcia,  springing  out  of 
bed  ;  "  I  am  wide  awake  now,  and  I'll  be  dressed 
before  you  can  turn  round." 

"Not  so  fast,  honey  !  I'se  'sponsible  for  your 
twilet  dis  mornin.'  Ole  Miss,  she  said  to  me  last 
night,  tossiii  dat  proud  old  head  o'  hearn,  which 
I  don't  b'lieve'll  ever  lay  low,  even  in  her  coffin, 
'  Phillis,  I  wish,  you  would  try  to  make  your 
Miss  Marcia  look  like  a  lady  ! '  '  Thank  you, 
ole  Miss,'  says  I;  'what's  born  in  de  blood  is 
sure  to  come  out  in  de  bone.'  'Very  true,'  says 
she,  '  but  I  am  afraid  that  no  one  would  pick  your 
Miss  Marcia  out  as  a  specimen.  Tie  up  those  In 
dian  locks  of  hers,  and  see  if  you  can  find  a  whole 
dress  for  her  to  wear.  I  would  not  like  my  son  to 
think  that  I  keep  an  asylum  for  beggars ! ' 
P'raps  you  don't  think  I  was  a  bilin,  but  I  bit 
my  tongue  with  my  teeth,  and  I  didn't  tell  her 
how  you  'fused  to  let  me  comb  your  pretty  har 


32  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

afore  you  went  to  her  room  'dat  mornin,  and  how, 
when  I  tole  you  dat  you'd  tore  your  dress  on  de 
bushes,  you  said,  'Never  mind,  she'll  never  no 
tice  it ! '  But  don't  cry  !""  said  she,  in  consternation 
at  the  tears  which  Marcia  could  not  restrain  at 
this  fresh  evidence  of  her  grandmother' s  harshness. 
"  You's  worf  more'n  de  whole  lot  shuk  up  in  a 
"bag  togedder,  Yankee  Marse  frowed  in;  and  if 
you'll  jis  promise  to  hold  still  I'll  make  you  so 
pooty,  dat  ole  Miss  '11  open  dem  eyes  o'  hearn 
wider  dan  ebber !  "  . 

And  Aunt  Phillis  made  her  word  good,  and  the 
transformation  was  very  complete  from  the  elfish, 
unkempt  damsel  of  yesterday  to  the  trim,  daintily 
dressed  young  maiden  that  a  half  hour  later 
emerged  from  Marcia' s  bed-chamber.  Her  luxu 
riant  black  hair,  brushed  smoothly  back  from  her 
temples,  hung  in  glossy  plaits  below  her  slender 
waist,  and  her  neatly  fitting  dress  of  spotless  mus 
lin  formed  as  simple  and  appropriate  a  costume  as 
Aunt  Phillis  could  have  selected,  even  if  she  had 
had  the  shop  of  a  Parisian  modiste  at  her  disposal. 

"  Dar,  honey,  you  look  sweet  enuff  to  eat ! "  said 
she,  gazing  admiringly  after  her  nursling  as  she 
descended  the  broad  staircase. 

Reaching  the  hall,  Marcia  stepped  out  on  the 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  33 

veranda  to  claim  her  usual  floral  tribute  from 
the  rose-bush  that  clambered  so  ambitiously  almost 
to  the  very  roof  of  the  gray  old  mansion,  indulg 
ing  in  numerous  conjectures  as  to  when  her  uncle 
would  probably  arrive,  and  whether  her  dress 
would  retain  its  freshness  till  that  auspicious 
moment ;  inwardly  resolving  to  be  the  first  to  her 
ald  the  expected  guest.  As  she  passed  the  open 
dining-room,  she  looked  in  and  saw  Uncle  Mose 
putting  the  finishing-touches  to  the  already  care 
fully  arranged  breakfast-table,  and  lo  !  gazing  out 
of  the  bay  window  which  looked  to  the  sea,  stood 
a  gentleman,  at  the  sight  of  whom  her  heart  gave 
a  great  bound,  and  she  paused  as  if  transfixed  to 
the  spot.  As  she  had  said  truly  to  Aunt  Phillis, 
no  masculine  ever  entered  their  gates  except  Father 
Baptiste  or  Monsieur  Moreau  ;  this  gentleman  was 
clearly  neither  of  those,  so  it  must  be  the  uncle 
for  whom  she  had  projected  such  an  ardent  wel 
come  and  prepared  so  many  pretty  speeches.  He 
must  have  come  in  the  night ;  and  she  almost  felt 
that  in  coming  thus,  he  had  defrauded  her  of  some 
of  her  just  rights  ;  not  that  she  had  much  time  to 
think :  her  uncle  had  evidently  heard  her  step, 
light  as  it  was,  and  turned  quickly  around,  with 
an  expression  of  surprise,  indeed,  but  mingled 


34  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

with  a  look  of  such  kindly  interest,  that  Marcia 
decided  at  once  that  he  was  not  in  the  least  like 
her  grandma,  and  that  she  was  certain  to  love  him 
very  dearly.  And  indeed  "Vincent  Elmore  bore 
but  little  resemblance  to  his  stern  old  mother,  be 
ing  inform  and  feature  almost  the  exact  prototype 
of  his  father.  But  it  was  in  form  and  feature  alone. 
The  Vincent  Elmore  who,  years  ago,  had  won  the 
proud  heart  of  the  young  West-Indian,  only  to 
crush  and  trample  upon  it,  could  never  have  looked 
out  from  eyes  so  true  and  tender  as  those  which  his 
son  turned  upon  Marcia  that  summer  morning,  nor 
could  a  smile  so  grave  and  sweet  have  been  at 
home  on  the  face  of  one  who  counted  his  favors  by 
dollars  and  measured  his  friendships  with  gold. 
Ah,  no !  very  different  was  the  son,  who,  a  man 
past  the  middle  age,  his  hair  tinged  here  and  there 
with  silver,  stood  now,  for  the  first  time,  beneath 
the  roof  of  the  mother  from  whom  be  had  been  so 
cruelly  estranged  in  his  very  infancy.  Perhaps, 
being  born  to  wealth,  he  had  been  spared  the  sor 
did  influences  and  petty  cares  that  in  the  race  for 
gold  too  often  contract  the  soul  and  harden  the 
heart  of  the  merchant-prince  ;  or  it  may  be  that  the 
warm,  generous  blood  of  the  young  mother  had 
mingled  with  and  tempered  the  frozen  current 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  35 

transmitted  from  father  to  son.  Be  this  as  it  may, 
it  would  have  been  hard  to  find  a  warmer  heart  or 
a  kindlier  nature  than  filled  the .  breast  of  the 
uncle, — truly  the  uncle  of  Marcia' s  dreams, — who, 
drawing  the  young  girl  towards  him  as  he  spoke, 
said : 

"  Can  this  be  Marcia  ?  I  was  not  led  to  expect 
anything  half  so  civilized." 

"  Ah  !  then  you  have  already  seen  my  grand 
ma  ? "  said  Marcia  naively. 

"Yes ;  last  night,  soon  after  my  arrival,  when 
these  dark  eyes  were  peering  into  dreamland.  But 
how  did  you  so  quickly  divine  it  ? " 

Oh !  because — because  my  grandma  does  not 
like — I  mean  she  does  not  care  for  me,"  said  Mar 
cia  hesitatingly.  "But  I  wish  she  had  been 
kind  enough  to  say  nothing  about  me.  Now  I 
know  I  shall  never  be  able  to  make  you  love 
me,"  and  the  tears  actually  started  to  her  eyes. 

"Cela  depend,"  said  her  uncle  cheeringly, 
stroking  the  trembling  little  hand  which  he  still 
held  in  his.  "  Suppose  I  prefer  trusting  to  my 
own  observations  and  forming  my  own  conclu 
sions  ?" 

"  Then  I  am  not  afraid,"  said  Marcia,  brighten 
ing  ;  "  for  I  really  believe  I  am  careless  only  be- 


36  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

cause  there  is  no  on.e  to  notice  me  or  take  an  in 
terest  in  me.  Grandma  never  forgave  dear 
mamma  for  marrying  my  poor  father,  and  she 
cannot  endure  me  "because  I  am  his  child.  Al 
though  we  live  in  the  same  house,  I  sometimes  do 
not  see  her  for  weeks  at  a  time,  and  she  never 
speaks  to  me  if  it  is  possible  to  avoid  it.  !N"o  one 
ever  comes  here.  The  servants  like  me  as  well  in 
a  torn  dress  as  a  whole  one,  and  I  fear  that  I 
have  learned  to  "be  careless  about  it  too." 

"Poor  child!  poor  child!  I  know  a  brace  of 
merry  girls  who  are  often  forced  to  plead  guilty 
to  dishevelled  locks  and  torn  dresses,  without 
half  your  excuses." 

"And  they  must  be  your  children  and  my 
cousins !  "  said  Marcia,  gayly  clapping  her  hands. 
"  I  pictured  you  to  myself  before  you  came,  kind 
and  gentle  as  you  are ;  and  1  thought  you  must 
have  children,  and  when  I  saw  you  I  felt  sure  of 
it.  I  am  so  glad  they  tear  their  dresses  too.  Do 
tell  me  what  are  their  names  ;  ,tiow  do  they  look  ; 
how  old  are  they ;  and  do  you  think  they  would 
like  me?" 

"What  an  avalanche  !  "  said  her  uncle,  comi 
cally.  "Let  me  see :  one,  two,  three,  four  ques 
tions,  all  in  a  breath  !  Really  I  am  not  equal  to 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  37 

answering  them  till  I  have  fortified  myself  with 
some  of  this  nice  coffee  Uncle  Mose  is  just  bring 
ing  in,  the  mere  fragrance  of  which  confirms  the 
traditional  excellence  of  southern  cookery.  And 
there  comes  <my  mother.  Marcia,  we  should  be 
very  gentle  with  her,  for  she  has  had  a  hard  life. 
Poor  mother  !  I  fear  I  will  never  be  able  to  for 
give  the  cruel  policy  that  has  kept  me  from  her 
all  these  years;"  and  he  hastened  to  meet  her 
and  offer  his  arm  to  escort  her  to  the  table. 

Accepting  her  son's  courtesy  as  a  matter  of 
course,  and  yet  with  all  the  courtly  dignity  of  the 
old  regime,  Madame  Robiera,  for  the  first  time 
in  many  long  years,  sat  down  to  do  the  honors  of 
her  own  table.  Glancing  at  Marcia,  she  said,  not 
altogether  ungraciously,  "  Well,  I  am  glad  to  see 
that  Phillis  has  succeeded  in  toning  you  down  a 
little.  But  I  suppose  you  have  not  yet  been  pre 
sented  to  your  uncle  ? " 

"Oh,  Marcia  and  I  took  that  ceremony  in  our 
own  hands,  and  are  already  the  best  of  friends," 
said  the  latter  good-naturedly,  busying  himself  in 
selecting  the  choicest  bit  of  chicken  for  his  mother, 
and  showing  her  throughout  the  meal  a  delicate 
attention  and  consideration  which,  stern  as  she 
was,  she  could  not  wholly  withstand.  Nor  did 


38  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

he  by  any  means  ignore  Marcia;  addressing 
pleasant  little  remarks  to  her  from  time  to  time, 
that  made  her  feel  as  if  a  new  era  had  indeed 
dawned  in  her  life,  and  filling  her  with  a  fervor 
of  admiration  that  I  fear  was  inimical  to  the 
fealty  she  had  always  sworn  to  the  heroes  of  her 
childhood's  romance,  causing  even  her  favorite 
Black  Prince  to  shrink  for  the  nonce  into  inglori 
ous  obscurity. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

"These  struggling  tides  of  life,  that  seem 

In  wayward,  aimless  course  to  tend, 
Are  eddies  of  the  mighty  stream 
That  rolls  to  its  appointed  end." 


BRYANT. 


BREAKFAST  over,  Mr.  Elmore  was  at  once 
at  his  mother' s  side,  ready  to  attend  to  her ; 
"but  at  the  door  of  her  apartment  she 
paused,  saying: 

"I  am  well  aware  that  the  business  which 
after  the  lapse  of  so  many  years  has  procured  me 
the  presence  of  my  son  must  "be  of  urgent  im 
portance." 

Mr.  Elmore  colored,  and  would  have  remon 
strated  ;  but  with  a  wave  of  her  hand  she  si 
lenced  him,  and  continued : 

"  I  find  myself  not  so  young  as  I  once  was,  and 
the  unusual  excitement  of  lasjt  night  has  so  far 
overtaxed  my  strength,  that  I  must  beg  you  to 
defer  the  discussion  of  it  for  the  present." 


40  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

"Willingly.  I  am  entirely  at  your  disposal, 
and  I  trust  that  I  shall  be  able  to  convince  you 
that  my  long  neglect  is  not  quite  so  culpable  as  it 
appears.  But,"  said  he,  gazing  anxiously  oh  her 
aged  face,  where  the  traces  of  recent  agitation 
were  too  plainly  visible,  "  if  you  would  but  al 
low  me  to  minister  to  you,  and,  late  in  the  day  as 
it  is,  to  do  a  son' s  part— 

"  Enough  !  "  returned  she.  "  I  need  neither 
your  ministrations  nor  your  sympathy.  I  am 
unused  to  both,  and  expect  to  die,  as  I  have  lived, 
without  them.  "But,"  she  continued,  not  un 
mindful  of  the  duties  of  hospitality,  "  I  trust  that 
you  will  consider  the  house  and  the  servants  en 
tirely  at  your  disposal,  and  amuse  yourself  as 
well  as  the  limited  resources  at  your  command 
will  permit." 

Mr.  Elmore  bowed,  and,  opening  the  door  for 
her  to  pass,  turned  away  with  a  deep  sigh.  Ah, 
terrible  are  the  phantoms  of  duties  neglected — 
possibilities  that  may  never  return  !  The  golden 
sands  run  out  so  quickly ;  the  flowers,  that  might 
have  made  our  lives  beautiful,  are  left  to  fade  un- 
plucked,  and  then, 

" God  pity  us  all, 

Who  vainly  the  dreams  of  youth  recall ; 


EBON  AND  QOLD.  41 

"  For  of  all  sad  words  of  tongue  or  pen, 
The  saddest  are  these, — '  It  might  have  been ! ' " 

But  such  thoughts  are  not  very  pleasant  com 
panions,  especially  on  a  bright  southern  morning, 
when  the  air  is  redolent  with  sunshine  and 
flowers,  and  voiceful  with  melodies  but  little  in 
accordance  with  sorrow  and  regret ;  and  Mr.  El- 
more  was  not  sorry  when  a  soft  hand  was  laid  in 
his,  and  he  saw  Marcia  at  his  side,  holding  a  very 
suggestive-looking  key -basket. 

"Come,  uncle,"  said  she,  "as  grandma  has 
deserted  you,  you  must  be  content  to  take  me  for 
a  hostess.  See,  I  have  coaxed  the  keys  from 
Aunt  Phillis,  and  I  am  going  to  entertain  you  by 
showing  you.  our  old  house.  But  perhaps  you  do 
not  know  that  it  was  built  by  the  Spaniards,  who 
first  settled  our  beautiful  State,  and  who  were 
my  grandfather's  ancestors.  I  don't  wonder  they 
scared  the  Indians  away,  for  if  they  at  all  resem 
bled  their  portraits,  they  were  certainly  grim  and 
ugly  enough." 

"  Not  a  very  flattering  criticism,"  said  her  uncle 
as  he  rose  to  follow  her.  "  I  fear  you  have  not 
much  pride  of  ancestry." 

"On  the  contrary,  I  glory  in  having  de 
scended  from  a  long  line  of  grave  Senors  and 


42  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

proud  and  "beautiful  senoras  ;  for  I  forgot  to  tell 
you  that  the  women  are  as  beautiful  as  the  men 
are  ugly.  I  love  the  picture-gallery  better  than 
any  spot  about  the  place  ;  and  whenever  I  can  pre 
vail  on  Aunt  Phillis  to  let  me  in,  I  spend  hours 
gazing  on  the  portraits  hanging  so  mutely  on  the 
wall,  till  they  seem  to  step  out  from  their  frames 
and  fill  the  silent  room  with  the  pomp  and  pa 
geantry  of  ages  past." 

"  So  you  are  enthusiastic  ?  But,  my  dear  child, 
your  language  and  your  ide'as  surprise  me.  Who 
has  been  your  teacher  ?  " 

"As  to  that,"  said  Marcia  simply,  "Father 
Baptiste  taught  me  to  read  when  I  was  preparing 
for  my  first  communion,  and  grandma  has  a  whole 
library  full  of  books.  But  if  you  were  to  question 
me  on  grammar,  or  arithmetic,  or  anything  that  is 
useful  to  know,  I  am  afraid  I  should  lose  your 
good  opinion.  Ah  !  "  said  she,  unlocking  a  door 
at  the  end  of  the  long  corridor  that  they  had  been 
traversing,  "  here  is  the  narrow  passage  that  leads 
to  the  old  part  of  the  house,  and  as  it  is  very  dark, 
you  must  mind  your  steps." 

Obeying  orders,  Mr.  Elmore  picked  his  way 
carefully  through  the  obscurity,  and  soon  found 
himself  in  a  large  hall,  heavily  panelled  with 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  43 

some  dark  wood,  whose  elaborate  carvings  would 
have  formed  the  delight  of  an  antiquarian.  Open 
ing  out  of  this  hall  were  several  apartments  which 
had  evidently  been  used  as  bedrooms,  as  the 
worm-eaten  furniture,  rich  with  gilding  and 
quaint  ornamentation  of  a  century  agone,  served 
to  testify.  One  of  these  apartments  presented  a 
much  more  modern  appearance  than  the  rest,  and 
had  evidently  been  freshly  swept  and  dusted.. 
The  bed,  with  its  faded  hangings  of  blue  and  gold 
damask,  occupied  an  alcove  ;  gilt-framed  chairs, 
covered  with  the  same  rare  fabric,  were  scattered 
here  and  there ;  curiously  fashioned  mirrors  re 
flected  from  tapestried  walls,  and  in  one  corner 
stood  a  stringless  lute,  still  tied  with  a  faded  blue 
ribbon.  Mr.  Elmore  uttered  an  exclamation  of 
surprise. 

"Ah  ! "  said  Marcia  with  something  like  a  hush 
in  her  fresh,  young  voice,  "this  is  the  apartment 
of  Donna  Inez,  the  fairest  and  most  ill-fated  of  my 
race.  Tradition  relates,  and  her  portrait,  which  I 
will  presently  show  you,  certainly  confirms,  that 
she  was  young  and  wondrously  beautiful.  But 
alas !  she  was  pledged  in  marriage  to  Don  Pedro, 
old  and  ugly,  though  fabulously  rich,  and  of  great 
renown,  and  he  bore  her  from  her  native  Spain  to 


44  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

his  Florida  home,  while  her  heart  remained  with  a 
handsome  young  lover  over  the  sea.  Discovering 
her  secret,  he  became  fiercely  jealous,  and  made 
of  this  "boudoir  a  prison,  where  the  poor  lady 
pined  and  sang  herself  to  death.  And  as  all 
old  mansions  have  a  ghost,  I  must  inform  you 
that  Donna  Inez  is  our  ghost.  The  servants  have 
a  superstition,  that  whenever  she  finds  her .  apart 
ments  neglected  she  leaves  them  to  wander 
through  the  rest  of  the  house,  so  that  their  fears 
cause  them  to  "be  particular,  as  you  see.  It  is  also 
said  that  she  haunts  the  chapel,  and  that  the  death 
of  a  mem"ber  of  the  family  is  always  foretold  by 
strange,  wild  notes  from  the  old  organ,  said  to  be 
called  forth  by  her  ghostly  fingers." 

"Poor  Donna  Inez!"  said  her  uncle,  "what 
tales  these  walls  might  tell  if  they  could  speak, 
and  what  heart-broken  echoes  one  might  awaken 
from  this  slumbering  lute.  But  I  should  not 
think  the  disfranchised  spirit  would  care  to  re 
visit -a  spot  where  it  had  known  such  bitter  grief." 

"Nor  I,"  said  Marcia ;  and  yet  she  closed  the 
door  with  a  subdued  reverence,  which  was  in  it 
self  an  involuntary  declaration  of  faith  in  the 
superstition  her  reason  should  have  taught  her  to 
reject. 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  45 

"Now  for  the  picture-gallery  !  "  she  exclaimed, 
leading. the  way  to  another  door  ;  and  in  a  moment 
they  stood  in  the  presence  of  the  smiling  ladies  and 
frowning  knights  who,  once  crowned  with  honors 
and  heralded  by  fame,  now  lived  but  in  the  canvas 
on  the  silent  walls.  Mr.  Elmore  passed  from  one 
to  another,  and  did  not  wonder  at  Marcia's  fasci 
nation  for  the  spot.  Each  face  seemed  to  suggest 
its  history,  and  he  could  fancy  the  weird  romances 
which  her  vivid  imagination  might  have  called 
into  being.  They  paused  before  a  portrait  repre 
senting  a  young  girl  of.  exquisite  loveliness.  The 
dress  of  white  satin  and  the  veil  of  rare  old  point, 
worn  in  the  graceful  Spanish  fashion,  might  have 
been  her  bridal  robes  ;  and  even  without  Marcia'  s 
prompting,  her  uncle  could  have  told  that  this 
was  the  unhappy  Donna  Inez. 

Leaving  the  picture-gallery,  they  descended  a 
quaintly-carved  staircase,  and  after  glancing  at  the 
ball-room  and  banquet-hall,  passed  into  the  gal 
lery  that  led  to  the  chapel,  which,  though  not,  as 
formerly,  in  daily  use,  was  still  kept  in  repair. 
Even  in  the  noontide  of  this  bright,  sunshiny  day, 
the  light  in  this  consecrated  spot,  coming  as  it  did 
through  stained  and  mullioned  windows,  was  so 
dim,  that  Mr.  Elmore  did  not  at  first  discern  the 


46  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

exquisite  beauty  of  the  frescoing  on  the  walls  and 
ceiling,  or  the  floor  "beneath  their  feet,  which  was 
laid  in  a  mosaic  of  colored  marbles.  Once  per 
ceived,  however,  they  so  engrossed  his  admiration 
and  his  scrutiny,  that  Marcia  turned  to  the  music- 
books  on  the  organ,  which,  although  they  could 
not  claim  the  antiquity  of  the  other  belongings  of 
the  chapel,  had  always  possessed  a  peculiar  charm 
for  her,  as  exponents  of  an  art  she  adored,  though 
utterly  ignorant  of  it.  She,  however,  left  them 
hastily,  as  she  saw  her  uncle  approaching  the 
altar,  being  anxious  to  be  the  first  to  call  his  atten 
tion  to  the  Agnes  Dei,  which  formed  the  frontis 
piece,  and  to  exhibit  the  wonderfully  carved 
crucifix,  the  rarest  of  all  the  family  heirlooms. 
Then  she  pointed  out  the  entrance  to  the  vault  be 
neath,  and  the  marble  tablets,  recording  the  names 
of  those  that  slept  therein.  They  then  left  the 
chapel ;  but  just  as  she  closed  the  door,  and  with 
difficulty  was  turning  the  key  in  the  ponderous 
lock,  a  wail  from  the  organ  smote  upon  her  as 
tonished  ear.  Trembling  with  affright,  she 
clutched  her  uncle's  arm,  just  as  another  one 
echoed  through  the  silent  halls. 

"Donna   Inez!    the  omen!    the  omen!"    she 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  47 

gasped,  and  would  have  fallen  if  her  uncle  had 
not  supported  her. 

"Nonsense,  Marcia!"  said  he;  "you  are  too 
sensible  not  to  know  that  the  spirits  of  the  de 
parted  are  not  permitted  to  come  back  to  earth. 
And  besides,  the  high  noon  of  a  bright  day  is  not 
the  traditional  hour  for  ghosts.  But  give  me  the 
key,  and  I  will  return  and  investigate  the  cause 
of  these  unwonted  sounds." 

"  No !  no  ! "  said  Marcia,  but  her  uncle  insisted ; 
and  taking  the  key  from  her  hand,  re-entered 
the  chapel.  He  soon  returned,  saying  smilingly, 
"  I  think  your  own  carelessness  has  evoked  the 
spirits  this  time.  No  doubt  you  did  not  securely 
repl'ace  the  music-books  which  I  saw  you  exam 
ining,  for  I  found  that  two  of  them  had  fallen.  In 
doing  so  they  must  have  struck  the  key-board 
and  produced  the  sounds  which  have  so  terrified 
you." 

Marcia  was  silenced,  but  evidently  not  con 
vinced. 

"  Let  us  go  into  the  garden,"  said  she,  shudder 
ing,  and  she  gave  a  sigh  of  relief  as,  they  stepped 
out  into  the  sunshine.  Her  elastic  spirits  soon 
rose,  though  the  shadow  had  not  quite  vanished 
as  she  said,  "Now  I  am  going  to  show  you  the 


48  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

grotto,  the  fountain,  the  old  sun-dial,  and  all  my 
favorite  haunts." 

"  That  is  right ;  I  am  glad  to  have  my  bright 
little  cicerone  restored  to  me." 

"O  uncle,  you  are  so  kind,  so  good,  to  have 
so  much  patience  with  what  I  know  you  must 
consider  my  foolish  weakness.  But  oh  !  it  was 
not,  it  was  not !  "  she  exclaimed,  the  old  look  of 
terror  and  distress  coming  back. 

"There !  "  said  Mr.  Elmore,  drawing  her  more 
closely  to  him  as  he  spoke,  "  don't  think  about 
it.  We  will  talk  of  something  more  pleasant. 
So  this  is  the  scene  of  your  gypsying,"  he  con 
tinued,  glancing  around.  "I'll  venture  a  wager 
that  I  can  discover  the  very  spot  that  you  have 
selected  for  a  studio;"  and  to  Marcia's  delight, 
he  walked  at  once  to  the  tree  in  whose  leafy  re 
cesses  we  first  made  her  acquaintance 

"  The  very  place  !  "  said  she,  gleefully  ;  "  but 
how  did  you  know  ? " 

"Because  these  spreading  limbs  form  such  a 
convenient  seat ;  and  still  more,  because  that 
could  not  belong  to  any  one  but  you,"  pointing 
to  a  garden  hat  dangling  among  the  branches. 

"My  hat !  I  forgot  it  yesterday  when  grand 
ma  sent  for  me.  Was  it  indeed  only  yesterday  2 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  49 

it  seems  so  long  ago.  Then  I  had  never  even 
heard  of  you,  and  now  I  feel  as  if  I  had  known 
and  loved  you  always." 

"  I  am  glad  of  that ;  for  in  truth,  I  have  "been 
busy  making  plans  for  you  for  the  last  hour." 

"Making  plans  for  me?  how  kind.  But  what 
are  they?  "  questioned  Marcia  eagerly. 

"  I  must  plead  guilty  of  a  Yankeeism,  and  an 
swer  your  question  "by  asking  you  one.  How 
would  you  like  to  go  home  with  me? " 

"Oh,  so  much!  so  much!  But  grandma! 
What  will  she  say  ?  and  even  if  she  does  not  love 
me,  would  it  be  right  to  leave  her  here  all 
alone  2 " 

"  Of  course  she  shall  be  consulted,  and  every 
thing  will  depend  on  her  decision.  If  she  evinces 
the  slightest  inclination  to  retain  you,  I  will  not 
urge  your  departure,  but  consider  it  your  highest 
duty  to  remain  ;  but  it  seems  to  me,  that  if  your 
presence  in  the  house  is  as  painful  to  her  as  she 
makes  it  appear,  she  will  be  relieved  to  have  you 
away  in  good  hands.  The  life  you  are  leading  is 
not  a  natural  or  a  healthy  one,  and  although, 
thanks  to  your  taste  for  books,  you  have  laid  up 
a  goodly  store  of  general  knowledge,  your  mind 
wants  discipline  and  training  ;  all  of  which  I  pro- 


50  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

pose,  that  you  shall  receive  in  common  with  my 
own  children." 

"  Ah,  your  children  !  my  cousins  !  how  could 
I  have  forgotten  them  all  this  time  ?  But  you  are 
not  too  tired  to  tell  me  all  about  them  now,  dear 
uncle?"  said  Marcia  beseechingly. 

"On  the  contrary,  I  can  imagine  no  more  pleas 
ant  task,  especially  with  such  a  listener,"  said 
Mr.  Elmore,  gazing  kindly  at  her  glowing  face. 
"  To  begin,  there's  Paul,  a  great,  tall — and  by  this 
time  bearded — fellow,  who  is  across  the  seas,  pur 
suing  his  studies  in  a  German  university.  Next 
comes  Jennie,  our  bright-eyed,  sparkling  bru 
nette,  who,  having  held  all  our  hearts  in  her  thrall 
during  the  seventeen  summers  that  have  passed, 
so  lightly  over  her,  is  now,  like  Alexander,  sigh 
ing  for  '  other  worlds  to  conquer '  in  the  shape  of 
the  hapless  beaux  who  may  see  fit  to  singe  their 
wings  in  the  light  of  her  smiles,  when  she  makes 
her  debut  next  winter.  Then  my  loving,  golden- 
haired,  blue-eyed  Lottie,  who  will  be  your  com 
panion,  and  who,  I  am  sure,  will  love  you  dearly. 
And  last,  there  are  our  mischievous,  fun-loving 
Nita  and  Dick,  aged  respectively  six  and  seven— 
a  precious  pair  of  spoiled  darlings,  but  the  very 
sunshine  of  the  whole  household." 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  51 

"Nita!  that  is  my  grandma's  namesake?" 
questioned  Marcia. 

"  Yes,  Mta  is  our  diminutive  for  Anita ;  heigh- 
ho  !  I  wish  I  could  see  the  little  fairy." 

"And  I  wish.  I  could  see  them  all.  But  my 
aunt !  tell  me  about  her." 

"Ah,  words  are  too  poor  to  describe  her.  My 
children  are  jewels,  but  she  is  beyond  and  above 
them  all.  With  the  poet : 

"  '  I  think  this  wedded  wife  of  mine 
The  best  of  all  that's  not  divine  1 '  " 

And  he  fell  into  a  reverie,  which  Marcia  did  not 
disturb,  as  she  too  was  dreaming,  and  had  drifted 
so  far  away,  that  she  started  when  her  uncle  inter 
rupted  her  with  :  > 

"A  penny  for  your  thoughts,  Marcia  dear  ! " 
"Oh!"  said  she,  "  I  was  wondering  how  many 
persons  there  may  now  be  in  the  world  whose 
lives  are  destined  one  day  to  mingle  with  and 
make  a  part  of  mine.  Until  yesterday,  it  seemed 
to  me  as  if  I  might  live  on  alone  forever ;  or  if  T  did 
sometimes  picture  to  myself  a  different  future,  I 
could  conjure  up  no  personages  more  real  than  the 
heroes  and  heroines  of  the  books  from  which  I  had 
learned  all  I  knew  of  life.  And  to-day  you  are 


52  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

here,  and  you  tell  me  of  a  blessed  aunt  and  a 
whole  troop  of  cousins,  whom  I  am  sure  I  shall 
yet  know  and  love.  And 'if  one  day  can  "bring 
forth  so  much,  it  bewilders  me  to  think  what  may 
happen  in  all  the  years  of  a  long  life." 

"  Child,  child,  you  think  too  much  !  I  am  more 
than  ever  convinced  that  you  ought  to  go  home 
with  me.  But  let  us  return  to  the  house  ;  perhaps 
by  this  time  your  grandma  may  be  ready  to  re 
ceive  me." 

But  in  this  he  was  mistaken,  and  it  was  evening 
before  he  was  admitted  to  her  presence.  The  soli 
tary  lamp  seemed  rather  to  heighten  than  dispel 
the  obscurity  of  the  apartment ;  but  as  Madame 
Robiera  turned  to  greet  her  son  on  his  entrance,  its 
rays  fell  full  on  her  face,  which  looked  so  wan  and 
haggard  that  he  started  involuntarily,  saying  : 

"  Mother,  you  look  ill ;  let  us  postpone  this 
business  till  you  are  stronger." 

"I  am  as  well  as  usual,"  said  she  grimly. 
"One  cannot  pass  through  a  life  like  mine,  made 
up  of  winters,  without  bearing  traces  of  its  tem 
pests  and  its  snows.  Produce  your  papers  ;  de 
lays  are  dangerous.  The  tree  which  the  lightning 
has  scathed  may  for  a  time  bid  defiance  to  wind 
and  storm,  but  its  sap  is  dried  up,  its  vitality 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  63 

withered,  and  who  can  tell  "but  the  next  fierce 
"blast  may  lay  it  low  !  " 

Mr.  Elmore  looked  sadly  at  her  ;  "but  without 
venturing  further  remonstrance,,  laid  "before  her 
certain  papers  which,  he  proceeded  to  explain,  had 
reference  to  her  life-estate  in  the  property  now  his, 
and  which  required  her  signature.  She  listened 
indifferently  to  his  explanations,  and  then,  draw 
ing  the  documents  towards  her,  signed  them  with 
out  a  word,  merely  saying,  as  she  returned  them  to 
him  : 

"  All  this  might  have  "been  transacted  through  a 
lawyer.  I  wonder  that  you  took  the  trouble  to 
come  so  far  to  attend  to  it." 

"I  am  aware  of  that.  But  mother,  these  papers 
are  but  my  excuse  for  troubling  you  with  my 
presence.  The  real  object  of  my  visit  is  to  con 
vince  you  that  I  am  not  the  unworthy  son  you 
have  had  reason  to  suppose  me,  and  to  endeavor, 
late  as  it  is,  to  make  amends  for  the  past." 

"That  is  quite  unnecessary,"  said  the  old  lady 
impatiently.  "You  have  been  no  worse  than 
your  antecedents  might  have  led  me  to  expect." 

"  Yes  !  "  said  he,  without  noticing  the  reproach, 
"you  and  I  have  been  cruelly  estranged.  I  can 
hardly  find  it  in  my  heart  to  forgive  those  who, 


54  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

not  content  with  tearing  me  from  your  breast  when 
a  mere  infant,  poisoned  my  tender  years  with 
stories  of  your  desertion  and  neglect,  and  when,  as 
I  grew  up,  despite  all  this,  I  would  have  sought 
you  out,  deterred  me  Iby  assurances  of  your  impla 
cable  hatred  to  all  that  bore  my  father's  name." 

"  How  and  when  did  you  learn  the  truth  ? "  said 
she  calmly  ;  but  her  whole  frame  shook  with  sup 
pressed  emotion. 

"Only  a  few  months  ago,  when  I  accidentally 
met  with  one  who  had  known  you  well  in  those 
early  days,  and  who  told  me  of  your  trials :  of 
your  exultant  joy  when  I  was  born,  and  your 
passionate  grief  when  I  was  taken  from  you,  and 
also  of  your  vain  attempts  to  regain  possession  of 
me  after  my  father's  death.  After  learning  this,  I 
felt  as  if  I  could  not  take  my  own  little  ones  upon 
my  knee  and  enjoy  their  innocent  prattle  and  fond 
caresses  till  I  had  sought  my  long-lost  mother,  and 
obtained  her  blessing  and  her  forgiveness.  So  here 
I  am  ;  and  mother,  you  will  not  refuse  what  I  have 
come  so  far  to  claim  ? " 

* 

"As  to  my  forgiveness,  I  do  not  consider  that 
you  need  it,  since  the  blame  rests  not  with  you 
but  with  others.  But,"  she  continued,  vainly 
struggling  to  retain  her  composure,  "  why  do  you 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  55 

ask  for  my  blessing  ?  Of  what  advantage  is  the 
blessing  of  one  whose  very  blood  is  turned  to 
gall,  and  whose  heart  is  dead  to  all  tender  and 
kindly  emotion  V 

"A  parent's  blessing  can  never  be  valueless  to 
a  child.  O  mother  !  give  me  yours  before  we  part 
to-night,  if  only  as  a  pledge  that  my  years  of  neg 
lect  are  not  remembered  against  me  !  " 

"  Grod  bless  you,  then,  my  son,  if  you  will  have 
it  so.  But  now  leave  me.  These  scenes  are  too 
much  for  me.  I  am  faint ;  I  am  weary  !  Yester 
day  that  child,  with  her  wonderful  eyes — her 
mother's  eyes — must  evoke  the  dead  past  from  its 
deep,  dark  grave  to  haunt  me,  and  to-night  you 
have  brought  up  memories  and  awakened  chords 
of  my  heart  that  I  thought  were  silenced  forever. 
Oh,  the  phantoms  !  the  phantoms  !  how  they  press 
on  me  from  every  side  !  But  go,"  said  she,  in  a 
tone  that  would  not  be  gainsaid ;  "  I  would  be 
alone  with  them." 

"Then  good-night,  mother,"  said  he,  stooping 
to  kiss  her.  "But  I  do  not  like  to  leave  you  thus. 
Let  me  at  least  send  your  servant  to  you." 

"  No,  no  !  I  will  ring  when  I  need  her  !  "  And 
Mr.  Elmore,  closing  the  door  gently,  left  her  alone 
with  her  thoughts. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Oh,  hearts  that  break  and  give  no  sign 
Save  whitening  lip  and  fading  tresses, 

Till  Death  pours  out  his  cordial  wine, 

Slow-dropped  from  Misery's  crushing  presses." 

HOLMES. 


after  Mr.  Elmore  left  his  mother,  her 
solitary  figure  haunted  him  ;  and  at  length, 
taking  his  hat,  he  went  out  in  the  grounds, 
in  the  hope  that  the  quiet  influence  of  the  still 
moonlight  would  calm  his  perturbed  spirit.  Wan 
dering  aimlessly  about,  he  found  himself  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  chapel,  and  paused  to  admire  the 
picturesque  beauty  of  the  gray,  moss-grown  walls 
and  stained  windows,  over  which  the  moon  was 
now  shedding  a  silvery  halo.  As  he  stood  thus, 
the  memory  of  Marcia's  fright  recurred  to  him, 
and  despite. himself  a  vague  feeling  of  apprehen 
sion  stole  over  him,  which  he  vainly  endeavored 
to  dispel. 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  57 

"  Nonsense  !  "  said  he.  "  There  is  some  magic 
about  this  spot :  I  shall  end  by  becoming  as  super 
stitious  as  the  negroes  themselves!"  And  turn 
ing,  he  re-entered  the  house.  Here  all  was  still, 
the  whole  household  apparently  wrapped  in  slum 
ber  ;  and  as  he  passed  his.  mother' s  apartments, 
the  extinguished  light  and  unbroken  quiet  con 
vinced  him  that  she  too  had  retired  to  rest.  Still 
the  evil  spirit  would  not  be  exorcised,  and  it  was 
long  before  sleep  visited  his  eyelids.  Neither  was 
Marcia's  rest  that  night  as  unbroken  and  profound 
as  it  was  wont  to  be.  In  the  solitude  of  her  apart 
ment  the  'mysterious  sounds  she  had  heard  still 
rang  in  her  ears,  and  she  could  not  accept  the 
simple  and  natural  explanation  her  uncle  had 
suggested.  Her  imagination  persisted  in  conjur 
ing  the  most  frightful  images  and  impossible  catas 
trophes,  and  the  night  was  far  advanced  when  at 
last  she  sank  into 'a  fitful  slumber,  from  which  she 
was  awakened  by  the  unusual  sound  of  wheels 
upon  the  gravel.  Rubbing  her  eyes  to  assure  her 
self  that  she  was  really  awake,  she  sprang  out  of 
bed,  and  reached  the  window  just  in  time  to  see, 
stopping  in  front  of  the  house,  a  carriage  from 
which  alighted  a  gaunt  little  personage  whom  she 
had  no  difficulty  in  recognizing  as  Monsieur 


58  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

Guerin,  the  village  doctor.  The  night  had  gone, 
for  there  was  the  broad  daylight  streaming 
through  the  windows,  but  in  her  bewilderment 
Marcia  could  scarcely  persuade  herself  that  she 
was  not  still  dreaming.  Filled  with  a  dread  of 
something  terrible,  she  knew  not  what,  she  hurried 
on  her  clothes,  and  descended  the  stairs  with 
trembling  steps. 

Just  then  the  doctor  came  out  of  her  grand 
mother' s  room,  and  with  him  her  uncle,  looking 
pale  and  agitated. 

"  Nothing  to  be  done,  sir  1  nothing  to  be  done  1 " 
the  doctor  was  saying  in  his  brisk,  professional 
tones;  "the  poor  lady  must  have  been  dead  for 
hours.  Heart-disease,  I  should  say.  Yes,  de 
cidedly,  heart-disease  !  If  I  can  be  of  any  service, 
command  me  ! "  and  with  a  bow  he  had  vanished. 

Marcia  stood  for  a  moment  motionless,  and  then, 
like  an  arrow,  she  flew  to  her  grandmother's  bed 
side.  Yes,  it  was  all  true!  The  "silver  cord 
was  loosed,"  at  last,  "the  golden  bowl  broken." 
"Beyond  the  sleeping  and  the  waking,"  "be 
yond  the  watching  and  the  weeping,"  that  form, 
upon  which  earth's  storms  and  tempests  had  done 
their  worst,  had  passed  whither  none  might  fol 
low.  Upon  the  aged  face  rested  a  calm  smile, 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  59 

strangely  at  variance  with  the  troubled  life,  as  if 
the  welcome  death  had  brought  a  benediction 
with  it.  And  let  us  hope  that  it  had,  and  that  the 
long  dark  record  of  hate  was  forever  folded  out  of 
sight,  and  the  burden  of  sin  laid  down  with  the 
burden  of  life  at  the  feet  of  the  Saviour. 

At  least  there  was  no  room  for  bitterness  in 
Marcia'  s  heart,  as  she  knelt  by  that  solemn  bed 
side. 

"O   grandma,    grandma!"    she    sobbed,    "if 
you  had  but  smiled  on  me  once,  only  once," 
and  seizing  the  withered  hand,  she  covered  it  with 
kisses. 

The  servants  stood  by,  too  awe-stricken  to  in 
terfere,  till  Mr.  Elmore  entered,  and  passing  his 
arm  tenderly  around  her,  said  : 

"  Come  with  me,  my  child  ;  this  is  no  place  for 
you."  • 

But  she  would  not  go,  only  clinging  more 
closely  to  the  hand  that  could  not  now  refuse  her 
caresses.  However,  his  gentle  authority  pre 
vailed  at  last,  and  he  drew  her  out  into  the 
garden,  where  the  calm  face  of  Nature  was  all  un 
changed,  and  the  birds  sang  as  cheerily  and  the 
flowers  smiled  as  gayly  as  ever. 

"Oh I"  said  Marcia,  "it  seems  so  strange  that 


60  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

everything  should  "be  the  same,  while" — but 
here  she  "broke  down  and  her  tears  "broke  forth 
afresh. 

Her  uncle  let  them  flow  awhile  unchecked,  and 
then  he  said  kindly : 

"All  this  serves  to  show  how  much  more  wisely 
things  are  ordered  for  us  than  we  could  order 
them  for  ourselves.  I  fear  that  if  the  sun  should 
cease  to  shine  every  time  an  affliction  is  sent  to 
a  poor  mortal,  we  would  all  soon  "be  compelled  to 
live  in  the  shadow." 

"But  all  this  was  her  own,  her  very  own," 
said  Marcia  passionately,  "  and  I  cannot  bear  to 
see  those  naiads  holding  their  marble  shells  to 
catch  the  falling  drops,  just  as  they  have  done 
ever  since  I  can  remember.  It  seems  to  me  that 
even  the  birds  should  sing  more  softly,  and  the 
flowers  hide  their  gay  hues  under  their  sheltering 
leaves,  in  the  presence  of  such  a  sorrow." 

"  Such  feelings  are  very  natural.  Grief  falls  so 
crushingly  on  the -heart  of  youth.  But,  Marcia, 
remember  that  you  are  my  little  girl  now,  and 
you  must  learn  to  subdue  and  control  this  rich, 
wild  nature  of  yours." 

And  thus  he  talked,  gravely  and  kindly,  till 
Marcia  felt  soothed  and  calm,  and  wondered 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  61 

what  she  would  have  done  if  this  trouble  had 
come  to  her  when  he  was  not  these  to  comfort  her. 

Father  Baptiste  called  in  the  course  of  the  day, 
full  of  concern  for  his  little  favorite,  as  he  had 
always  styled  Marcia,  and  was  much  relieved 
when  Mr.  Elmore  told  him  that  he  intended  to 
take  charge  of  her  future.  Monsieur  Moreau  and 
the  lawyer  also  paid  their  respects  ;  and  Madame 
Robiera  had  led  such  a  secluded  life,  that  this 
exhausted  the  list  of  friends,  and  Marcia  and  her 
uncle  were  left  pretty  much  to  themselves. 

Marcia  saw  her  grandmother's  face  once  again. 
It  was  the  day  of  the  funeral,  which  took  place  in 
the  little  chapel,  and  it  was  so  calm  and  peaceful 
that  the  sight  did  her  good,  and  she  was  able  to 
control  herself  very  well  during  the  ceremonies, 
till  the  moment  arrived  for  depositing  the  coffin  in 
the  vault,  when  she  trembled  violently ;  and  ner 
vously  clutching  her  uncle' s  arm,  exclaimed  in  a 
voice  of  irrepressible  anguish. 

"  Not  there !  O  uncle,  don't  let  them  leave  her 
there  !  " 

This  excitement  was  followed  by  days  of  such 
entire  prostration,  that  she  was  incapable  of  any 
thing  but'  lying  still  and  enjoying  an  unlimited 
amount  of  coddling  and  petting  from  Aunt  Phillis, 


62  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

and  such  care  and  attention  from  her  uncle,  that 
she  almost  began  to  doubt  her  own  identity. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Elmore  busied  himself  in 
settling  his  mother's  business  and  making  ar 
rangements  for  a  speedy  departure  as  soon  as 
Marcia  should  be  strong  enough  to  travel. 

Madame  Robiera'  s  will  was  simple  and  concise. 
With  the  exception  of  a  few  trifling  bequests  to 
servants,  her  entire  estate  was  left  to  Marcia.  A  spe 
cial  clause  empowered  Monsieur  Moreau  to  select 
a  guardian  in  case  he  declined  to  act  as  such 
himself;  and  as  he  had  a  decided  aversion  to  any 
kind  of  business  or  responsibility,  he  was  very 
glad"  to  confer  the  trust  on  Mr.  Elmore.  It  was 
also  provided  that  the  servants  should  be  retained 
on  the  home  place,  which,  wherever  Marcia 
might  make  her  home,  was  always  to  be  kept  in 
order  and  repair,  and  which  could  on  no  account 
be  either  rented  or  sold. 

And  so  time  passed,  bringing  "with  it  at  last  the 
eve  of  the 'departure.  Marcia  had  spent  the  day 
in  farewell  visits  to  each  familiar  spot,  and  des 
pite  her  bright  anticipations  her  heart  grew  heavy 
as  she  realized  for  the  first  time  all  that  she  was 
leaving.  Tears  were  streaming  down  her  cheeks, 
and  she  looked  pale  and  worn  in  her  black  dress, 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  63 

as  she  sat  in  her  little  bedroom  watching  Aunt 
Phillis,  who  was  putting  one  of  her  many  last 
touches  to  the  trunk,  the  packing  of  which  had 
for  days  "been  her  engrossing  occupation. 

"  Dar,  Miss  Marshy,  honey,"  said  she  at  length, 
shutting  the  lid  with  a  snap  that  made  Marcia 
start,  "I  reckon  de  white  trash  where  you'se  a 
gwine  can't  beat  that." 

"  I  am  sure  they  cannot !  "  said  Marcia,  and  her 
tears  flowed  afresh. 

"  Don't,  honey, — don't ! "  said  the  old  nurse  in 
distress.  "  You'll  spile  dem  pooty  eyes  of  yourn, 
and  den  you  can't  never  git  to  be  de  princess,  and 
do  dem  grand  things  we  done  talked  about." 

"I  don't  care  about  being  a  princess,"  sobbed 
Marcia  ;  "  this  old  house  and  the  dear  old  garden 
are  more  to  me  than  all  the  palaces  in  the  world !  " 

"Jes'  wait  till  you  see  dem  palaces!"  said 
Aunt  Phillis,  with  more  philosophy  than  one 
would  have  given  her  credit  for.  "I'se  feared 
dey'll  be  so  fine,  dat  you'll  not  stop  wi'  forgetting 
dis  house,  but  dem  odder  houses  made  without 
any  hands,  what  we  read  about." 

"  Never !  "  said  Marcia  indignantly,  drying  her 
tears.  "Aunt  Phillis,  what  do  you  take  me 
for?" 


64;  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

"  Dar,  honey,  dat's  lipw  I  like  to  see  you,  head 
up,  and  eyes  a-flashin' .  Lord  1  dar'  s  no  countin'  de 
hearts  you'll  smash  when  ye  gits  big  'nuff ;  wish 
I  could  be  dar  to  see  !  " 

"  Then  why  will  you  not  come  with  me  ? "  said 
Marcia  reproachfully;  "my  uncle  said  I  might 
take  you,  if  you  were  willing." 

"Gospel  troof,  ebry  word,  and  m arse's  a  gen- 
man  ebry  inch  o'  him.  But  what  'ud  'come  o'  de 
old  place  widout  Aunt  Phillis  ?  No  !  no,  honey, 
it  a' most  kills  me  to  leff  you  go,  but  I  must  stay 
here  and  keep  things  straight  till  you  come  back 
wi'  dat  grand  young  prince  what's  waitin'  for 
you  somewhar  in  dis  land  o'  promise.  And  now, 
chile,  you  must  go  to  bed,  whar  you  ortcr  bin 
an  hour  ago!"  and  unheeding  Marcia' s  remon 
strance,  she  undressed  her  as  if  she  had  been  an 
infant,  and  laid  laer  in  the  bed,  where,  overcome 
with  weeping  and  fatigue,  she  was  soon  wrapped 
in  a  profound  slumber. 

Long  after  her  darling  slept,  the  faithful  old 
nurse  kept  watch  beside  her,  while  the  big  tears, 
hitherto  so  bravely  repressed,  fell  thick  and  fast 
over  her  sable  cheeks.  The  bright,  beautiful 
morning  came  all  to  soon  for  her,  but  the  sun 
shine  charmed  away  half  of  Marcia' s  sorrow,  and 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  G5 

she  was  able  to  smile  through  her  tears,  as  the 
carriage  rolled  through  the  gates  through  which 
she  was  one  day  to  return — but  we  will  not  an 
ticipate,  for  in 

"  Every  venture  of  the  chances 

Of  life's  sad,  oft  desperate  game, 

Whatsoever  be  our  motive, 

Whatsoever  be  our  aim, 

It  is  well  we  cannot  see 

What  the  end  shall  be." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

"  O  pleasantest  of  mortal  tilings  ! — 

That  angels  dwell  in  homes  on  earth, 
Where  silently,  with  folded  wings, 
They  tarry  by  the  hearth." 

was  a  cool,  pleasant  apartment  in  one  of 
the  handsome  mansions  that  dot  the  banks 
of  our  beautiful  Hudson,  which  has  been 
most  appropriately  styled  the  "Rhine  of  Amer 
ica."  The  Rhine,  but  without  its  ruins,  and  con 
sequently  without  that  delightful  and  mysterious 
charm  which  the  shadow  of  a  dead  past  ever  casts 
over  the  living  present. 

The  intermingling  of  the  "then"  and  "now," 
the  shadow  and  the  sunshine,  the  gray  moss- 
grown  ruin  and  the  fresh,  springing  shrub  or 
flower,  serves  as  much  to  beautify  and  intensify 
the  landscape,  as,  in  life,  the  sorrows  bring  out  and 
heighten  the  joys,  and  in  the  mosaic  of  human 
existence,  the  dark  stones,  even  more  than  the  fair 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  67 

ones,  perfect  and  define  the  design  of  the  heavenly 
Architect.  But  there  must  "be  something  in  the 
very  thought  of  Germany,  suggestive  of  idealism 
and  mysticism,  since  we  have  wandered  off  into 
those  cloud-veiled  regions  instead  of  entering  the 
"cool,  pleasant  apartment"  on  whose  threshold 
we  stood  at  the  opening  of  this  chapter.  And  yet 
it  was  most  inviting :  the  soft  summer  breeze 
floated  in  through  the  mist-like  lace  curtains  that 
draped  the  long,  low  windows,  bearing  with  it 
the  combined  sweets  of  the  myriads  of  gay  blos 
soms  that  adorned  the  terraced  parterres  without. 
Beautiful  pictures  hung  on  the  frescoed  walls  ; 
groups  of  rare  statuary  looked  out  from  sculptured 
niches  ;  while  the  open  Steinway,  bestrewn  with 
the  contents  of  the  half-emptied  music-stand  beside 
it,  the  spacious  table,  plentifully  laden  with  uncut 
pamphlets,  papers,  and  the  latest  contributions  to 
the  world  of  literature  ;  tcr  say  nothing  of  the 
lounging-chairs  of  every  conceivable  pattern  and 
shape,  and  the  dainty  work-stand  with  its  domes 
tically  suggestive  feminine  appurtenances,  told 
that  this  was  the  family  sitting-room.  But  not 
the  least  attractive  feature  of  the  apartment  was 
the  fair,  gentle  lady  who,  in  her  low  seat  •  be 
side  the  work-stand  aforesaid,  was  endeavoring 


68  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

to  busy  herself  in  the  fabrication  of  some  article 
of  child's  apparel,  an  occupation  which  was 
seriously  interrupted  by  long,  frequent  glances  at 
the  clock  on  the  mantel. 

At  last  she  said  to  herself,  "It  is  almost  time  ; 
he  will  soon  be  here  now,"  and  the  smile  that 
illuminated  her  face  was  tender  with  the  love-light 
of  many  summers,  ay  !  and  winters  too  ;  for  hers 
was  one  of  those  true  woman' s  hearts  which  beat 
alike  in  the  June  sunshine  or  the  December  snow. 

"  He  has  been  gone  so  long,"  said  she,  pursuing 
her  musings.  "But  I  am  glad  he  went ;  so  glad 
that  his  stern  old  mother  blessed  him  before  she 
died.  And  poor  little  Marcia  !  what  would  she 
have  done  without  him  ?  So  young  and  so 
alone  !  My  Jieart  yearns  for  the  poor  motherless 
child.  I  hope  the  girls  will  be  gentle  and  tb  ought- 
ful  with  her,  and  not  forget  that  she  is  among 
strangers.  And  Miss  Herbert,  I  must  caution 
her  about  the  lessons.  She  might  be  too  exacting 
just  at  first — But,"  exclaimed  she,  as  she  caught 
the  sound  of  merry  little  feet  upon  the  stairway, 
"there  comes  Nita  and  Dick;  so  good-by  to 
thoughts  for  the  present,"  and  she  turned  smil 
ingly  to  welcome  the  intruders. 

Yes  !  this  is  Aunt  Lucia,  the  wife  of  whom  Mr. 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  69 

Elmore  spoke  so  lovingly  ;  though  it  seems  super 
fluous  to  say  so,  as  her  reverie  has  already 
served  to  assure  us  of  her  identity,  as  well  as  to 
introduce  us  to  the  "precious  pair  of  spoiled  dar 
lings,"  who  presently  came  "bounding  in,  saying 
"breathlessly : 

"  O  mamma!  mayn't  we  go  in  the  carriage  to 
meet  papa  ?  We  have  been  so  good  all  day ! 
Miss  Herbert  says  so  !  " 

"  Who  can  doubt  that  you  are  paragons  with 
such  an  endorsement  ?"  said  their  mother,  smiling. 
"But  what  was  that  I  overheard  nurse  telling 
Betty  this  morning  about  mud-pies,  and  a  torn 
frock,  and  a  missing  cap  ?  "  It  seems  to  me,  that 
a  little  boy  and  a  little  girl,  not  a  thousand  miles 
off,  had  something  to  do  with  the  woful  ditty." 

"O  yes!  that  was  us,"  said  Dick,  hanging 
his  head.  "But  we  didn't  go  to  do  it — that  is, 
the  torn  frock  and  the  lost  cap.  And  the  mud- 
pies  !  they  were  mighty  nice — and  p'raps  you 
made  'em  too  when  you  was  a  little  girl !  " 

Mrs.  Elmore' s  delicate  hands  certainly  ap 
peared  an  emphatic  refutation  of  the  slanderous 
accusation  ;  but  she  only  laughed  merrily  as  she 
said  : 

"O,  you  wise  little  ones  !  how  soon  you  learn 


70  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

to  teach  us  that  the  follies  of  childhood  are  riot  to 
be  measured  by  the  wisdom  of  age  !  "  And  then 
she  added  in  a  different  tone:  "Yes,  darlings, 
you  shall  go  to  meet  papa.  But,  Mta,  let  me 
straighten  your  sash !  and  Dick,  you  monkey, 
don't  forget  to  be  polite  to  Cousin  Marcia  ! " 

"Oh!  another  girl!"  said  Dick  in  a  doleful 
tone,  shrugging  his  precocious  shoulders.  "And 
girls  ain't  one  bit  jolly  :  none  but  Nita,"  and  the 
inseparables  darted  out  of  the  room  to  get  ready 
for  their  drive. 

Mrs.  Elmore  reseated  herself— and  again  took 
up  her  work  ;  but  her  fingers  were  idle,  and  she 
was  as  far  into '  dreamland  as  ever,  when,  a  few 
moments  later,  a  pair  of  soft  arms  were  twined 
lovingly  around  her  neck,  and  a  fresh,  young 
voice  exclaimed  gayly : 

"  My  dear,  sweet,  lovely  mamma  !  I  don't  have 
to  be  a  magician  to  guess  where  your  thoughts 
are  straying — for  my  part,  I  wonder  that  you  are 
even  making  a  pretence  of  doing  anything.  As 
for  Jennie  and  me — we  haven't  had  one  grain  of 
sense  all  day.  Now,  please,"  she  continued,  put 
ting  her  hand  playfully  over  her  mother's  mouth, 
as  she  tried  to  make  some  remark,  "don't  rise 
to  explain  that  this  is  my  chronic  state.  I  don' t 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  71 

deny  it ;  but  you  must  admit  that  it  is  most  un 
usual  with  Jenny.  Poor  Miss  Herbert  arose  this 
morning  in  one  of  her  most  rigid  moods,  fully  in 
tent  on  Lindley  Murray  and  abstruse  mathematics, 
both  of  which  she  was  forced  to  relinquish  early 
in  the  day,  proposing  'Gibbon's  Decline  and 
Fall '  as  a  compromise  (her  idea  of  light  reading, 
you  know).  By  the  time  the  bell  rang  for  lunch 
eon,  she  was  glad  to  suggest  Shakespeare.  Only 
think,  mamma,  of  Miss  Herbert  suggesting  Shake 
speare  in  school-hours!  But  one  page  of  Julius 
Csesar,  as  rendered  by  Misses  Jennie  and  Lottie 
Elmore,  so  thoroughly  disgusted  her,  that  she 
actually  dismissed  us  in  despair." 

"Poor  Miss  Herbert!  I  fear  you  madcap  girls 
have  tormented  her  sadly.  But  where  is  Jennie  ? ' ' 

"  Putting  the  finishing-touches  to  the  grand 
toilet  with  which  she  proposes  to  delight  papa 
and  overwhelm  our  new  cousin." 

"I  would  like  to  know  of  what  that  grand 
toilet  will  consist,"  said  her  mother,  laughing  ; 
"for  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  Miss  Jennie  owns 
nothing  more  elaborate  than  the  white  muslin 
in  which  you  have  so  becomingly  arrayed  your 
self." 

"  Thank  you,  mamma  !    It  is  so  comfortable  to 


72  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

have  you  praise  me,  especially  when  you  are 
generally  obliged  to  reprove  me  for  my  careless 
ness.  But  something  must  be  conceded  to  the 
beauty  and  belle  of  the  family.  A  bow  here  and 
a  flower  there  will  make  all  the  difference  in  the 
world  between  Jennie  and  me,  and  the  effect  will 
fully  compensate  for  the  extra  time  taken  to  pro 
duce  it.  No  doubt  I  look  very  passable  in  my 
white  muslin,  and  this  blue  ribbon,  which  is 
vainly  endeavoring  to  confine  these  troublesome 
curls  into  something  like  proper  limits  :  a  la 
Grecque,  as  Miss  Herbert  says — 'My  dear  Miss 
Lottie,  arrange  your  hair  a  la  Grecque!'  But 
Jennie's  tout  ensemble  will  be  positively  regal. 
Please,  mamma,  give  me  a  good  mark  for  the 
French  phrases.  But  there  comes  the  'faire 
ladye.'  Did  I  not  tell  you  so  1 "  and  she  looked 
admiringly  at  her  sister,  who  just  then,  entered  the 
room. 

"I  know  that  you  are  a  dear,  good,  unselfish 
girl,"  said  her  mother,  kissing  her  fondly,  "and  I 
have  a  right  to  be  proud  of  both  my  daughters  ! ' ' 

And  who  could  gainsay  it — Lottie' s  fair,  smiling 
face,  in  which  the  rival  roses  of  York  and  Lan 
caster  struggled  ambitiously  for  ascendency, 
framed  in  a  nimbus  of  soft  golden  ringlets,  formed 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  73 


in  truth  a  charming  picture,  albeit  in  direct  con 
trast  to  her  sister,  on  whom  none  could  gaze  with 
out  yielding  involuntary  homage  to  her  peerless 
loveliness.  Tall,  slender,  and  graceful,  the  effect 
of  her  simple  dress  heightened  and  enhanced  by 
those  indescribable  touches  to  which  Lottie  had 
playfully  alluded,  the  dark  hair  wound  in  a  mas 
sive  coil  around  her  classic  head,  she  realized  the 
ideal  of  a  beautiful  brunette. 

' '  On  her  cheek  an  autumn  flush 
Deeply  ripened :  such  a  bush 
In  the  midst  of  brown  was  born, 
Like  red  poppies  grown  with  corn. 

"  Round  her  eyes  her  tresses  fell, — 
Which  were  blackest  none  could  tell ; 
But  Idng  lashes  veiled  a  light 
That  had  else  been  all  too  bright." 

"And  I  am  sure  you  are  not  prouder  of  us 
than  we  are  of  our  own  dear  mother,"  said  she 
with  a  loving  glance  from  her  dark  eyes,  that 
made  Lottie  exclaim  : 

"  Those  eyes  !  those  eyes  !  Such  glances  may 
be  very  harmless  when  lavished  on  dear  mamma  ; 
but  my  soft  heart  is  already  filled  with  compas 
sion  for  the  poor  victims  that  are  destined  to 
come  within  range  of  your  masked  batteries  next 

winter." 

4 


74:  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

"Then  I  fear  yon  are  wasting  your  sympathy," 
retorted  Jennie  gayly.  "I  anticipate  no  such 
wholesale  hecatombs  to  my  charms.  I  am  no 
Julius  Csesar  that  I  should  'veni,  vidi,  vici.' 
By  the  way,  mamma,  did  Lottie  tell  you  about 
our  Julius  Caesar  to-day?  " 

"Yes  ;  and  I  suppose  I  ought  to  be  very  much 
displeased,  if  I  were  not  too  happy  to  be  stern  to 
day.  But  come,  let  us  go  out  on  the  piazza. 
Your  father  will  certainly  be  here  soon,  for  the 
clock  has  already  struck  six." 

"  And  there  is  the  carriage  just  turning  into  the 
avenue,"  said  Lottie,  clapping  her  hands  with  de 
light ;  "and  as  I  live,  there  is  that  irrepressible 
Dick  perched  up  beside  the  coachman !  Rather 
an  exalted  position  for.  a  young  man  of  his 
inches." 

And  in  a  few  moments  more,  the  fond  greetings 
had  been  exchanged,  and  Lottie,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  had  taken  possession  of  Marcia,  and  car 
ried  her  off  to  the  room  they  were  henceforth 
to  occupy  together,  chattering  volubly  all  the 
while. 

"Here,  Marcia,"  said  she,  "this  is  my  book- 
self,  and  mamma  has  had  that  one  put  between 
the  windows  for  you,  in  hopes,  as  she  says,  that 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  75 

you  will  shame  me  into  something  like  order ;  for 
you  must  know  I  am  an  incorrigible  sloven." 

"  Oh,  I  am  so  glad  !  "  said  Marcia  ;  this  honest 
confession  acting  like  magic  in  dispelling  the  un 
comfortable,  strange  feeling  that  had  hitherto  pos 
sessed  her. 

"Glad  that  I  am  a  sloven  !  "  exclaimed  Lottie, 
laughing.  "  I  fear  that  is  hardly  kind." 

"  Oh,  I  do  not  mean  that,"  replied  Marcia, 
coloring.  "  Only  I  am  so  full  of  faults  myself, 
that  I  was  afraid  if  you  were  too  good  and  too 
perfect,  you  would  not  love  me  as  my  uncle  said 
you  would." 

"And  as  I  am  sure  I  will,"  said  the  warm 
hearted  girl,  impulsively  throwing  her  arms 
around  Marcia.  "  It  must  be  so  sad  to  have  no 
sisters  and  brothers.  I  am  sure  I  don't  know 
what  I  should  do  without  mine." 

"And  Jennie  is  so  beautiful,"  said  Marcia. 
"  I  fairly  held  my  breath  when  I  looked  at  her. 
It  is  strange,  but  she  is  so  like  the  Donna  Inez 
in  our  picture-gallery  at  home." 

"And  who  is  Donna  Inez?"  asked  Lottie,  her 
curiosity  and  her  interest  at  once  aroused. 

"One  of  my  ancestors,"  said  Marcia  simply. 


76  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

"  I  will  tell  you  all  about  it  some  day.  But  the 
story  is  too  long  and  too  sad  for  to-day." 

"  Please,  Lottie,  may  I  come  in  ? "  said  a  small, 
disconsolate  voice  just  then,  and  a  curly  head  was 
thrust  doubtfully  in  at  the  door. 

"Certainly,  Queenie,"  said  Lottie,  springing 
up;  "butNlta,  pet,  what  is  the  matter?  Those 
pretty  lips  are  sticking  out -ever  so  far,  and  actu 
ally  I  see  two  big  tears  in  those  bright  little 
eyes." 

"I  ain't  no  Queenie  nor  pet  neither,  to-night," 
said  the  little  one  more  forcibly  than  grammati 
cally.  "Nobody  likes  me,  and  nobody  wants 
me.  Papa  and  mamma  are  talking  so  hard  they 
can't  even  see  me  ;  Sister  Jennie  is  walking  on 
the  terrace  with  Miss  Herbert,  and  you're  worse 
than  any  of  them  ;  for  you  just  runned  away  with 
Cousin  Marcia  as  if  she  was  all  yours,  when 
she's  mine,— for  I  went  in  the  carriage  to  get  her." 

"  So  you  did,  you  little  darling,"  said  Marcia, 
kissing  her. 

" But  where  is  Dick? "continued  Lottie;  "he 
is  generally  quantum  sufficit." 

"He  has  gone  to  the  stable  with  Thomas,"  said 
Nita,  her  tears  rising  with  her  growing  sense  of 
injury.  "I  wanted  to  go  too,  but  he  said  I  was 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  77 

too  fine,  and  told  me  that  I'd  never  Ibe  a  '•'brick'* 
till  I  stopped  wearing  blue  shoes  and  these 
things,"  pointing  to  the  "broad  sash  tied  around 
her  waist. 

"  Ah !  that  was  'the  straw  that  broke  the  cam 
el's  back,'"  said  Lottie  sympathizingly.  "Poor 
little  thing !  your  cup  of  grievances  is  indeed  run 
ning  over.  But  what  would  Dick  say  if  he  knew 
you  had  been  crying  ?  Tears  are  even  worse  than 
sashes,  according  to  his  code  of  morals.  Let  us 
wipe  them  all  off  and  coax  back  the  smiles,  while' 
Cousin  Marcia  brushes  her  hair  for  supper, 
which  I  am  sure  will  soon  be  ready." 

And  the  little  fairy  was  again  all  sunshine  at 
that  happy  meal,  where  she  was  petted  and  spoiled 
to  her  heart' s  content,  her  papa  having  scarcely  a 
word  for  any  one  else.  Marcia  was  the  delighted 
recipient  of  her  kind  Aunt  Lucia' s  undivided  at 
tention  ;  but  the  very  depth  of  her  feelings  made 
her  unusually  silent  and  reserved,  which,  com 
bined  with  her  thin,  colorless  face,  and  not  too 
tastefully  selected  toilet,  „ caused  the  fastidious 
Miss  Jennie  to  wonder  what  her  papa  could  have 
seen  in  that  pale,  silent,  unformed  girl,  to  call 
forth  the  enthusiastic  praises  with  which  his  let 
ters  had  been  filled. 


78  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

All  unconscious,  however,  of  this  hasty  criti 
cism,  Marcia  meanwhile  was  positively  revelling 
in  Jennie's  beauty.  Indeed,  her  entire  surround 
ings  filled  her  with  a  delicious  sense  of  rest  and 
happiness ;  and  this  day,  which  had  introduced 
her  for  the  first  time  to  the  sanctities  of  domestic 
life  and  the  family  circle,  was  destined  to  be  for 
her  a  gold -lined  one  forever,  shining  all  the  more 
brightly  from  its  contrast  with  the  dark  ones 
through  which  she  had  just  passed ;  and  when 
she  laid  her  head  on  her  pillow  that  night,  she 
could  even  find  it  in  her  heart  to  be  thankful  for 
the  past  shadows  which  so  heightened  and  glori 
fied  the  present  sunshine. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

"  Multiplication  is  a  vexation, 

Division  is  as  bad ; 
The  rule  of  three  doth  puzzle  me, 
And  fractions  drive  me  'mad,' " 

Lottie  gayly  one  bright  afternoon  as 
she  entered  the  school-room,  where  Marcia 
was  seated,  her  head  resting  on  her  hands, 
poring  disconsolately  over  a  slate  filled  with  a 
most  unpromising  array  of  figures. 

"O  Lottie !  I  am  so  stupid.  I  don't  believe  I 
will  ever  get  this  sum,  and  yet  Miss  Herbert  says 
it  is  so  easy  that  even  Dick  could  do  it." 

"  I  suspect  that  is  simply  a  little  figure  of  speech 
on  the  part  of  Miss  Herbert,  though  you  know 
that  Dick  is  conceded  to  be  a  mathematical 
prodigy.  But  what  is  the  difficulty  ? "  and  she 
drew  the  slate  towards  her  as  she  spoke. 

"O  no!  you  must  not!"  exclaimed  Marcia; 
adding  hastily,  "  Not  that  I  do  not  think  it  very 


80  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

kind  of  yon,  "but  Miss  Herbert  told  me  I  must  do 
it  myself,  and  I  doii  t  think  it  would  be  quite  right 
to  let  you  help  me." 

"As  you  please,"  said  Lottie,  reluctantly  giv 
ing  back  the  slate;  "but,  Marcia,  please  make 
haste.  The  afternoon  is  perfectly  lovely,  and 
mamma  says  I  may  take  you  to  see  that  beautiful 
view  which  I  have  been  longing  to*  show  you  ever 
since  you  have  been  here." 

"You  may  be  sure  that  I  will  do  my  very 
best,"  said  Marcia  ruefully  ;  "  but" — with  a  long- 
drawn  sigh — "I  fear  there  will  be  no  views  for  me 
this  afternoon." 

"  She  '  sighs  like  a  furnace  ! '  "  exclaimed  Jen 
nie  in  a  theatrical  tone,  entering  the  room  just 
then  in  search  of  a  book.  "  Shade  of  the  immor 
tal  Shakespeare,  tell  us  what  weighty  matter  has 
evoked  those  lugubrious  echoes  from  their  vasty 
depths!" 

"Now,  Jennie,  don't  mount  your  Pegasus," 
said  Lottie.  "  It  is  nothing  but  Marcia' s  tiresome 
sums."  But  Marcia  only  moved  uneasily  in  her 
seat  in  painful  consciousness  of  the  covert  satire 
her  sensitive  nature  was  keen  to  detect. 

"  What !  does  the  brilliant  mind  refuse  to  grasp 
the  idea  that  two  and  two  make  four,  or  is  the 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  81 

number  of  times  that  ten  is  contaiDed  in  twenty 
the  incomprehensible  problem  ?  " 

"  For  shame  !  Jennie,"  exclaimed  Lottie  angrily, 
and  Marcia'  s  eyes  flashed,  though  she  bit  her  lips 
to  keep  back  a  hasty  retort,  and  her  usually  pale 
face  flushed  with  the  effort  to  repress  her  rising 
tears. 

"And  why  for  shame?"  said  Jennie  provok- 
ingly.     "  I  am  sure  I  have  not  said  'the  rose  that 
all  are  praising  is   not  the  rose  for  me,'  even 
though  I  may  have  seen  fit  to  indulge  in  a  little  - 
pleasantry  at  the  expense  of  the  rare  exotic." 

"Jennie ! "  again  burst  indignantly  from  Lottie's 
lips ;  but  at  this  moment  Miss  Herbert  opened  the 
door,  and  glancing  from  one  to  another  in  sur 
prise,  said  in  her  coldest  and  most  governess-like 
tone  :  ' '  Young  ladies,  what  does  this  mean  ?  I 
sent  one  of  your  number  hither  in  order  that  the 
silence  and  recollection  which  we  endeavor  to 
make  the  rule  of  this  apartment  might  facilitate 
the  accomplishment  of  a  certain  unfinished  task  ; 
but  I  surely  did  not  expect  to  find  her  holding 
such  a  levee." 

"Oh,  it  is  all  my  fault!"  exclaimed  the  im 
pulsive  Lottie.  "  I  was  the  first  intruder.  I  came 

in   to   tell  Marcia  of  a  treat  which  mamma  had 
4* 


82  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

promised  us,  and  to  see  if  I  could  not  hurry  her 
up  a  little." 

"Hurry  her  up!"  repeated  Miss  Herbert. 
"  Keally,  Miss  Lottie,  I  must  beg  you  to  be  more 
choice  in  your  language.  But  how  did  you  pro 
pose  to  do  this  ?  Not,  I  hope,  by  offering  assist 
ance?"  and  her  countenance  assumed  a  look  of 
greater  severity  than  it  had  yet  worn. 

"Who  can  doubt  it?"  said  Jennie  in  a  tone 
which  told  that  her  stinging  mood  had  not  yet 
passed.  "These female  Damon  and  Pythias  pro 
fess  to  hold«all  things  in  common  ;  then  whj^  should 
they  make  exceptions  of  such  trifling  matters  as 
talents,  accomplishments,  or,"  she  added  point 
edly,  "mathematical  proficiency." 

"  Why,  Jennie !  I  do  not  know  you  this  after 
noon!"  exclaimed  Lottie  in  mingled  grief  and 
anger.  "What  have  Marcia  and  I  done  to  call 
forth  such  cutting  remarks?  But,  Miss  Herbert, 
it  is  true  that  I  wanted  to  help  Marcia,  but  she 
was  too  honorable  to  accept  my  offer." 

"  That  is  very  well,"  said  she,  unbending  some 
what;  "and  now,  young  ladies,  I  must  beg  you 
to  leave  your  cousin  to  her  task." 

As  the  governess  was  supreme  in  the  school 
room,  there  was  no  alternative  but  to  obey,  and 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  83 

Jennie  walked  out  haughtily,  while  Lottie  reluct 
antly  followed  her,  casting  a  wistful  glance  at 
Marcia  as  she  passed. 

During  all  this  trying  scene  Marcia  had  sat  per 
fectly  silent,  keeping  her  lips  firmly  closed,  with  a 
self-control  remarkable  in  one  so  impulsive  and  so 
unused  to  authority  or  restraint ;  but  when  Miss 
Herbert  also  withdrew,  and  she  felt  herself  at  last 
.  alone,  she  laid  her  head  on  her  desk  and  sobbed 
as  if  her  heart  would  break.  Poor  child  !  A  few 
short  weeks  ago,  when  she  entered  her  uncle's 
house,  she  had  felt  that  she  had  entered  paradise. 
But  already  had  she  discovered  the  trail  of  the 
serpent  that  lingers  in  every  earthly  Eden.  The 
thorns  had  already  begun  to  grow  on  the  roses,  the 
shadows  to  flit  across  the  sunlit  paths,  and  she  was 
learning  the  lesson  which  since  the  days  of  Adam 
has,  sooner  or  later,  been  conned  by  all  his  poster 
ity.  True,  her  uncle  was  as  tender  and  thought 
ful  as  ever ;  her  Aunt  Lucia  was  kindness  itself, 
and  the  loving,  sweet-tempered  Lottie  had  at  once 
taken  her  to  her  heart  of  hearts.  So  far  the  picture 
was  all  golden,  but  the  ebon  lines  were  not  want 
ing.  Miss  Herbert,  although  highly  accomplished, 
and  in  general  thoroughly  just  and  impartial,  was 
not  calculated  to  enter  into  and  appreciate  a  nature 


84:  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

like  Marcia*  s ;  and  though  Mrs.  Elmore  had  im 
parted  to  her  all  the  circumstances  of  her  neglected 
childhood,  she  could  not  understand  how  such 
ignorance  of  the  common,  primary  branches  of  ed 
ucation  could  be  coupled  with  such  a  varied  stock 
of  general  knowledge  as  Marcia  undoubtedly  pos 
sessed.  This  rendered  her  disinclined  to  overlook 
any  failure,  and  so  exacting  was  she,  that  few 
indeed  were  the  afternoons  on  which  Marcia  was 
permitted  to  leave  the  school-room  with  her 
cousins.  Marcia,  proud  and  sensitive,  and  pain 
fully  conscious  of  her  deficiency,  never  complained ; 
but  she  sometimes  found  it  difficult  to  restrain 
Lottie's  indignation  at  what  she  termed  Miss  Her 
bert'  s  injustice.  But  the  sharpest  thorn  in  Marcia' s 
side  was  Jennie' s  treatment  of  her.  Her  speech  of 
to-day  was  but  a  fair  specimen  of  similar  ones 
which  she  was  constantly  making.  Indeed,  she 
scarcely  ever  addressed  a  remark  to  Marcia  that 
did  not  contain  some  lurking  satire.  This  seemed 
unaccountable,  especially  as  the  young  girl  had, 
from  the  first,  conceived  a  passionate  admiration 
for  her  beautiful  cousin.  But  Jennie  had  so  long 
been  the  idol  of  her  family,  and  was  so  accustomed 
to  the  adulation  universally  paid  to  her  rare  beauty 
and  talents,  that  she  could  not  brook  even  the  idea 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  85 

of  a  possible  rival ;  and  with  more  discernment 
than  Miss  Herbert,  she  foresaw  that  she  might 
some  day  meet  with  such  a  one  in  Marcia.  She  at 
once  recognized  the  brilliancy  and  strength  of  her 
rich,  untrained  intellect ;  the  gems  drawn  from  the 
stores  accumulated  in  her  extended,  though  desul 
tory  reading  filled  her  with  unconscious  envy, 
and  she  was  even  compelled  to  acknowledge  that 
the  expressive  midnight  eyes  were  in  no  way  in 
ferior  to  her  own  glorious  orbs,  and  that  the  thin, 
colorless  face  possessed  a  delicacy  and  refinement 
of  outline,  and  an  intellectuality  of  expression, 
that  not  only  redeemed  it  from  present  ugliness, 
but  gave  promise  of  future  beauty.  This  latent 
spark  had  been  fanned  into  a  flame  by  the  music- 
master,  who,  at  Marcia' s  first  lesson,  after  testing 
her  untried  capabilities  by  the  customary  gamut, 
had  delightedly  exclaimed  in  Jennie' s  hearing  : 

"Ah,  this  is  one  grand  voice  !  We  will  make 
one  superbe  singer  of  mademoiselle." 
-  The  languages  also  seemed  to  come  to  Marcia  by 
intuition  ;  so  that  in  the  very  paths  in  which  her 
supremacy  had  hitherto  been  most  indisputable, 
Jennie  already  saw  her  young  cousin  pressing 
hard  in  her  steps. 

In  the  meantime,  with  the  true  humility  of  ge- 


§6  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

nius,  Marcia  was  entirely  unconscious  of  all  this. 
The  idea  of  rivalling  her  peerless  cousin  never  en 
tered  her  busy  brain,  though  she  often  racked  it 
to  discover  a  cause  for  the  coldness  and  indiffer 
ence,  which  so  deeply  hurt  her.  This  afternoon, 
however,  speculation  was  lost  in  exquisite  pain, 
and  her  long  pent-up  tears  flowed  on  without  re 
straint.  The  afternoon  waned,  and  the  evening 
shadows  stole  into  the  silent  room,  but  she  marked 
them  not,  till  a  soft  hand  was  laid  on  her  shoulder 
and  a  sweet  voice  exclaimed  in  surprise  : 

"You  here  !  Why,  my  child  !  I  thought  that 
you  and  Lottie  were  on  the  very  top  of  Hudson 
Heights,  enjoying  the  pure  air  and  the  grand  scen 
ery.  And  crying  too  !  What  is  the  matter  ? " 

And  her  Aunt  Lucia  sat  down  beside  her,  strok 
ing  her  burning  brow  with  a  kind,  motherly  touch 
that  soothed  Marcia  at  once,  so  that  she  was  able 
to  answer  calmly. 

"I  did  not  have  my  sums,  and  I  could  not 
go." 

"That  is  hardly  sufficient  cause  for  all  these 
tears,"  said  Mrs.  Elmore,  pausing  ;  but  as  Marcia 
did  not  volunteer  any  further  explanation,  she 
continued :  "  Why  did  you  not  come  for  me  to  in 
tercede  for  you?" 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  87 

"  I  did  not  think  of  it ;  and  if  I  had,  I  should  not 
have  liked  to  trouble  you." 

"Never  say  that  again,"  interrupted  her  aunt. 
"  Do  you  not  know  that  a  mother  considers  noth 
ing  troublesome  that  she  can  do  for  her  children, 
and  it  is  her  highest  privilege  to  be  the  chosen 
confidante  of  their  joys  and  sorrows — and  my  dear, 
you  must  not  forget  that  you  are  now  my  child." 

"Thank  you!  thank  you,  dear  Aunt  Lucia," 
said  Marcia,  seizing  her  hand  and  covering  it  with 
kisses,  and  at  the  same  time  inwardly  resolving 
that  although  her  silence  might  cause  her  to  ap 
pear  ungrateful  and  wanting  in  confidence,  noth 
ing  should  tempt  her  to  pain  that  kind  heart  by 
revealing  the  true  cause  of  her  distress. 

But  whatever  her  aunt  may  have  thought,  she 
only  drew  the  child  more  closely  to  her,  saying, 
"But  what  about  those  unhappy  sums?  I  fear 
the -tears  have  been  as  fatal  to  their  accomplish 
ment  as  the  excursion  with  Lottie  would  have 
been." 

"  Indeed  they  have,"  said  Marcia  ruefully.  "  I 
fear  that  Miss  Herbert  will  think  me  either  very 
stupid  or  very  stubborn,  or  perhaps  both,"  and 
she  sighed  wearily. 

"I  will  make  it  all  right  with  Miss  Herbert  this 


88  EBON  AND  a  OLD. 

time,  and  induce  her  to  wipe  off  old  scores  and  begin 
anew.  But  go  now,  my  dear,  and  smoothe  these 
disordered  tresses,  and  try  to  reduce  your  swollen 
eyes  to  something  more  like  natural  dimensions, 
before  your  uncle  sees  you,  or  he  will  wonder  who 
has  been  persecuting  his  Southern  wild-flower." 

Putting  her  slate  away  with  alacrity,  Marcia 
threw  her  arms  around  her  dear  aunt,  exclaiming, 
' '  Blessings  on  you,  precious,  darling  Aunt  Lucia  ! 
I  wish  I  could  do  something  to  prove  my  love  for 
you.  The  perils  that  the  brave  knights  of  old 
encountered  to  serve  their  ladye  loves  are  nothing 
to  what  I  would  do  for  you,"  and  her  spirits  re 
bounding  with  the  elasticity  of  youth,  she  tripped 
lightly  out  of  the  room. 

"  Poor  child  !"  mused  Aunt  Lucia,  as  she  van 
ished,  "  if  she  but  knew  how  much  more  highly  I 
would  prize  her  confidence  than  all  the  chivalry  of 
the  middle  ages,  she  would  not  withhold  it.  What 
can  I  do  to  win  it  ?  I  am  sure  those  sums  could  not 
have  been  the  sole  cause  of  such  a  burst  of  grief, 
though  I  fear  Miss  Herbert  is  too  harsh  with  her : 
I  am  certain  that  she  does  not  understand  her, 
nor  does  she  understand  my  loving  Lottie's  gentle 
nature.  With  Jennie,*her  course  has  been  admira 
ble  ;  but  different  temperaments  require  different 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  89 

management.  Ah !  how  much  easier  it  is  to  be 
ruled  than  to  rule !  '  Uneasy  lies  the  head  that 
wears  a  crown'  is  true  of  all  in  authority,  be 
theirs  a  princely  diadem  or  the  more  lowly  in 
signia  of  the  mother  of  a  family.  But  the  office  is 
so  sweet,  I  would  not  exchange  it.  Ah  !  there  are 
Nita  and^Dick's  merry  voices  in  the  hall.  And 
this  is  what  Lonfellow  calls  'the  children's  hour.' 
I  must  go  to  them  !  Ah  my  little  darlings,  if  I 
could  but  keep  you  always  as  you  are  now.  A 
few  short  years,  and  the  others  will  be  fledged  and 
flown,  and  the  time  will  come  when  you  too  must 
leave  the  parent  nest ;  but  for  the  present  at  least 
I  can  say  with  the  poet : 

"  I  have  you  fast  in  my  fortress, 
And  will  not  let  you  depart, 
But  put  you  into  the  dungeon 
In  the  round-tower  of  my  heart." 


CHAFER  VIII. 

"  How  sweet  (while  warm  airs  lull  us,  blowing  lowly), 
With  half-dropped  eyelids  still, 
Beneath  a  heaven  dark  and  holy, 
To  watch  the  long  bright  river  drawing  slowly 
His  waters  from  the  purple  hill — 
To  hear  the  dewy  echoes  calling 
From  cave  to  cave  through  the  thick -trimmed  vine, 
To  hear  the  emerald-coloced  water  falling 
Through  many  a  woven  acanthus-wreath  divine  ! 
Only  to  hear  and  see  the  far-off  sparkling  brine, 
Only  to  hear  were  sweet,  stretched  out  beneath  the  pine." 

TENNYSON. 


might  Marcia  and  Lottie  have  spoken, 
if  they  could  have  clothed  their  thoughts  in 
words  as  they  sat,  a  few  afternoons  later, 
beneath  the  tall,  spreading  trees,  contemplating  the 
beautiful  Hudson  from  onfe  of  its  most  romantic, 
and  picturesque  localities.  Both  young  girls  were 
endowed  with  a  keen  appreciation  of  nature  ; 
but  to  Marcia' s  poetic  temperament,  the  feeling 
amounted  to*  a  passion,  and  she  gazed  as  if  she  could 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  91 

not  drink  in  enough  of  the  beauty  scattered  with 
such  a  lavish  hand  around  them.  She  gazed  and 
then  she  dreamed  till  her  eyes  grew  shadowy  with 
visions  of  the  mysterious  land,  which  none  but 
disembodied  spirits  may  enter  save  in  fancy. 

"Marcia,"  said  Lottie  at  last;  but  eliciting  no 
response:  "Marcia,"  she  repeated,  "where  is 
your  fancy  straying  ?  your  face  looks  so  strange 
and  weird,  that  involuntarily  I  have  thought  of 
the  beautiful  Lorelei,  and  wondered  if  she  could 
have  left  her  fair  grotto  in  the  Rhine  to  charm 
you  with  her  fatal  song." 

"O  Lottie!  why  did  you  speak?  This  river 
was  the  river  of  life  to  me ;  those  white-sailed 
boats,  our  barks  launched  on  its  surface.  I  have 
watched  them,  now  floating  idly  with  the  tide,  and 
anon  struggling  with  the  rushing  current.  The 
sunshine  has  ever  seemed  to  rest  goldenly  on 
yours,  while  mine  has  often  sailed  beneath  the 
shadows.  See  1  yours  is  already  safely  moored 
to  the  shore,  while  mine  is  still  breasting  the  rising 
waves,  hurrying  onward,  where  yon  lowering 
cloud,  prophetic  of  tempests  and  storms,  shrouds 
the  distant  horizon  in  gloom." 

"  But  your  bark  is  not  destined  to  be  wrecked," 
said  Lottie  ;  "it  will  battle  nobly  with  the  storm. 


92  WON  AND  GOLD. 

See  how  "bravely  it  mounts  the  white-capped 
breakers  ! "  Hand  in  hand,  the  two  girls  silently 
watched  the  receding  bark,  till  at  last  Lottie  ex 
claimed,  "There,  we  can  see  it  no  longer.  Bless 
ings  attend  it ! "  And  then  springing  up  hastily, 
she  added  :  "But,  Marcia,  we  must  be  going,  and 
that  at  once,  for  if  I  mistake  not,  these  gathering 
clouds  betoken  more  mischief  to  us  than  that  far- 
off  one  we  have  been  watching  so  intently.  Let 
us  hasten,  or  the  rain  will  be  upon  us." 

Losing  no  time,  they  immediately  descended  the 
height ;  but  ere  they  reached  the  valley,  the  light 
ning  began  to  flash  and  the  thunder  to  roll  omi 
nously.  Lottie  turned  pale  as  the  echoes  reverber 
ated  through  the  surrounding  hills  ;  but  Marcia 
seemed  imbued  with  the  very  spirit  of  the  storm, 
and  her  face  glowed  with  an  unnatural  excite 
ment. 

"  Is  not  this  grand  ? "  said  she  to  her  shrinking 
companion.  "Lottie,  are  we  anywhere  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  '  Sleepy  Hollow '  ?  I  should  so 
like  to  meet  the  famous  Heinrich  Hudson  and  his 
silent  band ;  but  I  am  afraid  that  although  the 
elements  are  so  favorable,  the  hour  is  not  propi 
tious." 

"  How  canyou  talk  so ,  Marcia.     I  am  actually 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  93 

trembling  with  fright ;  and  there  comes  the  rain  to 
add  to  our  troubles,"  said  Lottie,  as  the  big  drops 
began  to  fall  around  them. 

"  What  of  that  ? "  returned  Marcia  ;  "  we  are  not 
so  delicate  that  a  little  rain  can  hurt  us." 

"  But  we  are  a  good  half  mile  from  home,  and 
mamma  will  be  so  uneasy." 

"Ah,  yes,  dear  Aunt  Lucia  !  I  never  thought. 
I  would  not  like  to  frighten  her ;  but  is  there  no 
place  where  we  can  find  shelter  ?  Those  gates  !  I 
don't  remember  to  have  seen  them  before,  but 
surely  they  must  lead  somewhere?"  and  Marcia 
pointed  to  a  pair  of  massive  iron  gates  just  ahead 
of  them. 

"  Ah,  yes  ;  the  Murray  place  ;  I  did  not  think 
we  were  so  near  it,"  said  Lottie,  more  cheerfully. 
"  There  is  nobody  there  but  the  old  gardener  and 
his  wife,  who  is  the  housekeeper ;  but  they  will 
be  glad  to  shelter  us.  Kenneth  Murray,  who  owns 
the  place,  is  the  last  of  his  family,  and  he  is  papa'  a 
ward,  and  is  away  in  Europe  with  Paul." 

By  this  time  they  had  reached  the  gates,  but 
finding  them  securely  locked,  they  were  glad  to 
effect  an  entrance  by  climbing  the  fence.  The  rain 
was  now  falling  in  torrents,  and  their  light  sum 
mer  clothing  was  completely  drenched  ;  but  not- 


94  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

withstanding  these  untoward  circumstances,  Mar- 
cia  could  not  help  noticing  the  grand  sweep  of  the 
"broad  avenue  that  led  to  the  house,  which  was  a 
fine  old  mansion  built  of  rough  gray  stone,  covered 
here  and  there  with  creeping  ivy  vines,  and  "bear 
ing  a  look  of  venerable  antiquity,  unusual  in  this 
young  country,  where,  although  fortunes  are  often 
made  in  a  day,  they  rarely  remain  in  a  family  for 
more  than  one  generation. 

"  Thank  God,  we  are  here  at  last !  "  said  Lottie, 
as  she  ascended  the  steps,'  while  Marcia  raised  the 
Tvnocker  on  the  great  doors.  The  echo  thus 
awakened  half  startled  the  two  girls  as  it  sounded 
through  the  empty  halls,  but  in  a  few  moments 
steps  were  heard  approaching,  the  key  turned 
slowly  in  the  lock,  and  old  Jeffries  the  gardener 
appeared,  amazement  pictured  in  every  lineament 
of  his  honest  face, 

"Lord!  Miss  Lottie,"  said  he,  "be  that  you? 
How  ever  did  you  git  out  in  sich  a  storm.  But 
walk  in,  you  and  t'  other  miss  too.  It' s  an  ill  wind 
that  blows  no  good,  and  the  old  'ooman'll  be  prec 
ious  glad  to  see  your  purty  faces,  if  you  be  as  wet 
as  two  ducks  in  a  duck-pond." 

"  Indeed  we  are  wet  enough,"  said  Lottie,  laugh 
ing,  her  spirits  rising  now  that  she  found  herself 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  95 

under  shelter.  "  But,  Jeffries,  this  is  my  cousin, 
Miss  Marcia  Lyle,  who  has  come  to  live  with  us  ; 
and  I  know  she  will  be  as  great  a  favorite  with 
you  as  the  rest  of  us  madcaps.  You  will  find  her 
quite  good-looking  when  she  is  dried  out  a  little," 
she  added  mischievously. 

"  I  am  sure  of  that,"  gayly  rejoined  the  old  man. 
' '  And  I  am  proud  to  make  Miss  Marcia' s  acquaint 
ance,  and  I  know  the  Missis' 11  be  the  same,  and 
she'll  have  you  dry  as  bones  in  a  twinklin'.  But 
here  she  is  to  speak  for  herself,"  he  added,  as  they 
had  now  reached  the  end  of  the  hall,  and  a  trim 
little  dame,  with  cap  and  neckerchief  as  immacu 
late  as  her  snowy  white  apron,  stepped  out  of 
the  housekeeper's  room,  and  advanced  to  meet 
them. 

"Bless  us,  Miss  Lottie!"  exclaimed  she, 
'  who'd  'a  thought  o'  seein'  you !  And  I  s'pose  this 
is  the  young  lady  as  is  come  from  furrin  parts  to 
live  with  you.  Sakes  alive !  how  wet  you  be. 
But  never  mind,  wet  or  dry,  you  are  '  as  welcome 
as  the  flowers  o'  May,'  so  walk  in  and  sit  by  the 
fire,  while  I  look  up  suthin  warm  to  put  on  your 
blessed  backs.  It  is  a  lucky  thing  that  I  would 
have  the  fire  this  evening,  though  Jeffries  often 
laughs  at  me  for  kindlin'  it  in  midsummer  ;  but  as 


90  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

I  tell  him,  it  looks  more  cheerful  like,  and  there' s 
no  knowin'  what  may  happen." 

All  this  time  she  was  bustling  about,  putting 
the  tea-kettle  to  boil  and  making  the  young  girls 
comfortable  ;  but  presently  she  left  the  room,  re 
turning  in  a  few  moments  with  a  pile  of  snowy 
linen  on  one  arm,  and  on  the  other  two  dresses 
of  rich  brocaded  satin,  the  sight  of  which  would 
at  once  have  carried  us  back  to  the  days  of  our 
great  grandmothers. 

"O  Mrs.  Jeffries,  those  dresses!'*  exclaimed 
Lottie.  "They  make  me  think  of  Kenneth. 
You  must  know,  Marcia,  that  there  are  trunks 
full  of  just  such  as  these  upstairs,  and  in  the 
good  old  times  when  we  used  to  come  here  for  a 
day's  frolic,  we  considered  it  our  greatest  treat 
to  be  allowed  to  rummage  through  them.  Some 
times  Mrs.  Jeffries  was  so  kind  as  to  let  us  put 
them  on,  and  I  can  assure  you  that  we  felt  very 
grand,  strutting  about  in  our  borrowed  plum 
age." 

"  That  you  did,  and  as  handsome  a  set  of  little 
ones  you  were  as  ever  I'd  wish  to  set  my  two 
eyes  on  ;  my  own  bairn  (asking  your  pardon)  the 
finest  and  tallest  of  you  all ; "  and  the  old  dame 
wiped  her  eyes  with  the  corner  of  her  snowy 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  97 

• 

apron.  "  You  see,  Miss  Lottie,  I  knowed  well 
enough  that  you  and  t'other  miss  oughtn't  to  sit 
in  these  wet  clothes,  so  I  made  bold  to  get  some 
of  my  own  linen,  which,  though  hardly  fit  for 
such  as  you,  is  the  best  I  have  to  offer ;  "but  I 
was  puzzled  what  to  do  for  dresses,  till  all  at 
once  I  minded  those  old  times  ;  and  here  are  two 
gowns^fine  enough  for  a  queen  ;  but,  if  you  don't 
mind  my  saying  so,  you  must  put  them  on  in  a 
jiffy,  before  you  take  cold  ! " 

"Thank  you!  How  kind!  This  is  delightful !" 
burst  simultaneously  from  the  lips  of  both  the 
girls,  and  they  were  soon  attiring  themselves  in 
great  glee,  when  Marcia  suddenly  exclaimed  : 

"But,  Lottie,  is  there  no  way  in' which  we  can 
let  Aunt  Lucia  know  that  we  are  safe  ?  It  seems 
wrong  to  be  so  merry,  when  she  may  be  suffering 
so  much  on  our  account." 

"  Bless  your  dear  heart  for  mindin'  that  sweet 
aunt  o'  yourn;  but  old  heads  is  more  thochtfu' 
than  young  ones,  and  as  soon  as  I  seed  you  safe 
in  my  own  room,  I  started.  Jem,  the  blacksmith's 
lad,  who  had  been  helping  the  old  man  in  the 
garden  the  afternoon,  to  tell  the  dear  leddy  that  I 
have  you,  and  that  I  mean  to  keep  you  till  the 
storm  is  over,  if  it  lasts  all  night.  It'll  not  be 


98  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

the   first   night   Miss  Lottie  has  passed  at  the 

'ivy.'" 

"  But  the  storm  is  raging  fearfully,  and  it  is  al 
ready  dark,"  said  Lottie,  as  an  ominous  peal  of 
thunder  resounded  in  the  distance  and  the  rain 
"beat  furiously  against  the  window-panes.  "Do 
you  not  think  that  Jem  will  be  frightened  and 
turnback?" 

"Not  he !  "  said  the  old  lady.  "  He's  a  brave 
lad  and  fleet  o'  foot ;  and  he  no  more  minds  a 
storm  than  Heinrich  Hudson  himself;  so,  my 
dears,  make  yourselves  easy  and  let  me  hear  your 
blithesome  laugh  again." 

After  this  the  dressing  went  gayly  on,  and  our 
two  school-girls  were  soon  transformed  into  ele 
gant  court  ladies  of  a  century  agone.  All  was 
complete,  even  to  the  arrangement  of  the  hair, 
which  the  girls  had  accomplished  with  wonderful 
skill,  and  the  effect  of  which  was  greatly  height 
ened  by  two  elaborate  combs  which  the  kind 
housekeeper  had  drawn  forth  from  her  store  of 
antiquities,  and  which  the  delighted  Marcia  and 
Lottie  declared  to  be  all  that  was  wanting  to  the 
perfection  of  their  toilet.  Just  as  they  were  fin 
ished,  and  were  taking  an  enraptured  view  of 
themselyes,  old  Jeffries  appeared  at  the  door  with 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  99 

a  light,  and  invited  them  to  the  library,  which  he 
had  opened  and  made  ready  for  their  accommoda 
tion.  Accepting  his  invitation  with  alacrity,  their 
fresh,  young  voices  awakened  such  gladsome 
echoes  in  the  long-silent  halls,  that  good  old  Mrs. 
Jeffries  smiled  softly  to  herself  as  she  set  to  work  to 
get  what  she  called  "a  bite"  and  "a  sup,"  and 
her  old  man  exclaimed  that  it  seemed  like  the 
good  old  times. 

The  library  was  a  cheerful,  spacious  apartment, 
albeit  of  sufficient  dignity  of  aspect  to  be  in  keep 
ing  with  the  general  character  of  the  mansion. 
The  tall,  well-filled  bookcases  were  laden  with  a 
wealth  of  classic  lore  that  would  have  given  the 
finishing-stroke  to  a  bibliomaniac,  and  the  marble 
bust  of  many  a  departed  genius  kept  watch  over 
the  garnered  treasures  of  his  immortal  intellect. 
Artistic  groupings  in  bronze  adorned  either  end 
of  the  mantel-shelf,  in  the  centre  of  which  stood  a 
clock,  whose  motionless  hands  had  long  pointed 
to  the  mystic  hour  of  twelve  ;  while  underneath 
it,  just  above  the  broad  fireplace,  was  a  marble 
shield,  on  which  were  engraved  these  words :% 

"Principia,  non  homines."  (Principles,  not 
men.) 

"That,"  said  Lottie,  as  Marcia  stooped  to  read 


100  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

the  inscription,  "is  the  motto  of  the  Murray  fam 
ily,  and  such  a  noble  race  have  they  proved, 
that  it  is  said  that  none  have  failed  to  come  up  to 
the  high  standard." 

"That  is  indeed  high  praise!"  said  Marcia, 
"  and  certainly  does  not  tend  to  lessen  the  inter 
est  surrounding  the  absent  Kenneth,  with  whose 
premises  we  are  making  so  free.  Tell  me,  is  he 
one  of  those  heroes  to  whom  '  distance  lends  en 
chantment  to  the  view,'  or  do  you  think  he  would 
stand  the  test  of  closer  inspection  ? " 

"As  for  that,  cara  mia,  1  hope  you  will  soon 
have  an  opportunity  of  judging  for  yourself;  for 
as  papa  is  growing  impatient  at  Paul's  long  ab 
sence,  and  Kenneth's  recently  attained  majority 
makes  his  presence  here  indispensable,  we  may 
hope  soon  to  see  '  the  Duncan  on  his  native  heath !' 
However,  when  Kenneth  left  us,  he  was  as  hand 
some  a  lad  as  one  might  wish  to  see,  and  in  char 
acter  a  perfect  Bayard,  sans  peur  et  sans  reprocJie. 
But  that  speaking  likeness  opposite  will  satisfy 
your  curiosity  better  than  any  words  of  mine  could 
do  ;  for  I  could  almost  imagine  it  to  be  Kenneth 
himself  thrust  into  a  frame  and  suspended  from 
the  wall." 

And  truly  it  was  a  handsome  face  that  greeted 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  1Q1 

Marcia  from  the  canvas,  as  she  turned  to  look  at 
it.  The  laughing  blue  eyes  ;  the  .fair  hair  tossed 
carelessly  back  from  the  smooth,  broad  brow  ;  the 
firm,  proud  mouth,  giving  even  to  that  boyish 
countenance  the  stamp  of  character  and  determi 
nation  ;  the  unconscious  grace  of  attitude,  all  chal 
lenged  the  young  girl's  admiration,  and  she  gazed 
so  long  and  fixedly,  that  Lottie  exclaimed,  laugh 
ing: 

"  Cease  those  longing  glances,  cousin  mine,  or  I 
will  make  them  the  material  of  an  impromptu  ro 
mance  !" 

Marcia  smiled,  and  then  said,  as  if  thinking  aloud, 
"  Sans  peur  et  sans  reproche!  Such  a  casket  might 
well  enshrine  a  spotless,  fearless  soul.  But  I  won 
der  where  the  original  may  be  wandering  this 
wild  night,  while  we  are  so  snugly  ensconced  amid 
his  Lares  and  Penates." 

"Somewhere  in  the  mystic  Khine-land,"  re 
joined  Lottie:  "  perchance  whispering  soft  noth 
ings  in  the  ear  of  some  golden-haired,  rosy-cheeked 
fraulein,  oblivious  of  America  and  America's  fair 
daughters.  But  who  can  that  be  ? "  she  exclaimed, 
.  as  a  thundering  knock  at  that  moment  fell  on  their 
startled  ears  ;  "  I  cannot  think  that  mamma  would 
send  for  us  in  such  a  storm  ! " 


102  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

"  Nor  I !  "  said  Marcia,  listening  intently  as  the 
tones  of  a  clear,  manly  voice  now  rang  through 
the  hall,  followed  by  exclamations  of  wonder  and 
delight  from  old  Jeffries  and  his  wife. 

"I  verily  believe  it  is  Kenneth  himself !"  said 
Lottie  at  last.  ' '  Remember  the  old  adage,  '  Speak  of 
the  rays  and  the  sun  will  appear ! " '  and  she  started 
impulsively  for  the  door;  but  before  she  could 
reach  it,  it  opened  and  a  young  man  entered,  but 
paused  on  the  threshold  with  a  most  ludicrous  ex 
pression  of  perplexity  and  surprise. 

"  0  Kenneth  !  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you,"  said 
Lottie  rushing  eagerly  forward  to  greet  him. 

"Why,  Lottie!  is  that  you?"  returned  he  no 
less  warmly.  "I  really  did  not  recognize  you, 
until  you  spoke.  Jeffries  informed  me  that  there 
was  a  light  in  the  library,  but  left  me  wholly  un 
prepared  for  the  vision  of  loveliness  awaiting  me 
therein.  I  deemed  myself  returning  solitary  to  a 
solitary  home,  and  you  can  imagine  my  surprise 
when  I  suddenly  found  myself  in  the  presence  of 
two  fair  dames,  who  looked  as  if  they  might  have 
stepped  out  of  the  picture-gallery  to  meet  irfe. 
For  a  moment  the  relics  of  my  childish  belief  in 
ghosts  overpowered  me,  and  then  I  felt  inclined  to 
rub  my  eyes  to  see  if  I  were  dreaming." 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  103 


cc 


Ah!  I  had  forgotten  my  magnificent  attire," 
said  Lottie,  coloring,  "and,"  she  added,  "  I  fear  I 
have  forgotten  my  politeness  as  well,  for  I  have 
not  yet  presented  you  to  my  consin  Marcia.  How 
ever,  I  am  sure  she  will  take  the  circumstances 
into  consideration  and  forgive  me." 

"  I  scarcely  feel  that  I  require  an  introduction 
to  Miss  Lyle,"  said  Kenneth,  bowing  with  courtly 
grace;  "for  you  honored  her  with  such  frequent 
mention  in  your  letters  to  Paul,  that  her  name  be 
came,  I  might  say,  a  household  word  to  us,  if  it 
be  not  an  anomaly  to  suppose  that  two  such  wan 
derers  could  claim  any  household  words." 

' '  But  where  is  Paul  ? ' '  questioned  Lottie  eagerly; 
"you  have  told  me  nothing  of  him  !  Of  course  he 
returned  with  you  ? " 

"O  yes!  and  he  has  doubtless  ere  this  as 
tounded  the  family  circle  at  'Glen  Eden'  as  thor 
oughly  as  I  have  astounded  you.  I  left  him  at  the 
gate  as  we  passed." 

"But  why  did  you  not  go  in  with  him  ?  I  won 
der  that  he  would  let  you  go  on  alone  in  such  a 
storm  !  " 

"Ah!  he  did  endeavor  to  detain  me,  but  I 
deemed  a  mother's  welcome  too  sacred  a  thing 
for  stranger  eyes  to  intrude  upon,  so  I  resisted  the 


104:  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

temptation  and  trudged  on  to  the  home  that  would 
have  been  desolate  indeed,  had  not  you  fair  ladies 
brightened  it  with  your  presence ! " 

"Ah,  Kenneth  !  "  said  Lottie  gravely,  "  I  have 
half  a  mind  to  scold  you.  How  can  you  call 
yourself  a  stranger,  when  you  know  we  all  con 
sider  you  quite  one  of  us  ?  Surely  you  have  not 
forgotten  how  often  papa  and  mamma  have  re 
proved  you  for  your  morbid  sensitiveness ! " 

"No !  but  I  cannot  forget,  that  in  all  this  wide 
world  I  am  an  alien ;  that  my  -blood  courses  in  no 
living  veins,  and  that,  sacred  and  dear  as  are  the 
ties  of  friendship,  ties  of  kindred  I  have  none." 
And  the  shadow  on  the  young  man's  brow  deep 
ened  into  gloom  as  he  spoke,  and  the  two  girls  were 
silent,  and  Marcia's  dark  eyes  grew  wistful  with 
their  yearning  sympathy.  Perhaps  their  unspo 
ken  sorrow  smote  him  with  the  consciousness  that 
he  was  illy  playing  the  part  of  host ;  for  in  a 
moment  he  said  gayly,  "  But  a  truce  to  sentiment ! 
Here  comes  Jeffries, — and  adding  his  presence  to  the 
fact  that  certain  savory  odors  have  for  some  time 
been  assailing  my  anticipative  nostrils,  I  arrive  at 
the  mathematical  certainty  that  he  brings  a  sum 
mons  to  the  festal  board ! " 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  105 

And  so  it  proved.  _  Dame  Jeffries  had  not  for 
gotten  her  hungry  Master  Kenneth  of  old,  and  her 
magic  had  conjured  up  an  array  of  "good  things" 
that,  at  such  short  notice,  was  positively  marvel 
lous.  Many  were  her  apologies  that  she  was  not 
able  to  serve  them  in  state  in  the  grand  dining- 
hall ;  but  youth  brought  to  the  meal  the  sauce  of 
happy  hearts  and  a  fine  appetite,  and  we  question 
if,  in  all  the.days  of  its  past  grandeur,  the  Ivy  had 
ever  been  the  scene  of  a  merrier  banquet. 

By  the  time  they  had  concluded,  the  storm  had 
passed,  and  the  moon  looked  out  from  a  sky  as 
serene  and  blue  as  if  it  had  never  known  a  cloud. 
Before  they  could  return  to  the  library  the  carriage 
from  Glen  Eden  was  announced,  and  Lottie,  burn 
ing  with  impatience  to  welcome  her  long-absent 
brother,  hastened  their  departure,  at  the  same  time 
urging  Kenneth  to  accompany  them.  Marcia's 
eyes  looked  the  entreaties  she  did  not  feel  at  liberty 
t6  utter ;  but,  resisting  all  appeals,  Kenneth  was 
not  to  be  moved,  merely  promising  to  see  them 
early  in  the  morning.  Still  as  he  bade  them  good 
night,  the  shadow  returned  to  his  brow,  nor  did  it 
pass  away  as  he  sat  brooding  over  the  dying  em 
bers  of  the  library  fire  ;  but  it  had  lifted  somewhat 
5* 


106 


EBON  AND   GOLD. 


when  at  last  he  took  up  his  candle  to  retire  to  rest 
murmuring,  softly  to  himself : 

"  Eyes  that  displace 
The  neighbor  diamond,  and  outface 
The  sunshine  by  their  own  sweet  grace  1 " 


CHAPTER  IX. 

"  Gather  ye  rosebuds  as  ye  may, 

Old  Time  is  still  a-flying  ; 
And  this  same  flower  that  smiles  to-day 
To-morrow  will  be  dying." 


NE  sunny  morning,  a  few  days  after  the 
stormy  adventure  of  our  young  friends, 
a  merry  group  was  assembled  on  the  lawn 
in  front  of  Mr.  Elmore'  s  residence.  Croquet  had 
evidently  been  the  order  of  the  day  ;  but  the  mal 
lets  were  now  carelessly  cast  aside,  and  Dick  and 
Nita,  happy  in  undisputed  possession  of  the  gayly 
colored  balls,  were  rolling  them  aimlessly  through 
the  deserted  wickets.  Kenneth,  bearing  an  ivy 
wreath,  had  just  approached  Marcia,  and,  bowing 
before  her  in  graceful  homage,  was  about  to  crown 
her  victor,  while  the  rest  of  the  party,  consisting 
of  Christabelle  Huntington  and  her  saucy  brother 
Fred,  Lottie,  and  the  newly  arrived  Paul,  clapped 
their  hands  in  rapturous  applause.  Jennie  alone 


108  EBON  AND  &  OLD. 

took  no  part  in  this  pretty  scene,  though  she  made 
quite  a  picture  herself,  as  she  sat,  a  little  to  one 
side,  bending  her  dangerous  dark  eyes  full  upon 
the  handsome  Clifford  Aubrey,  apparently  en 
grossed  in  the  poem  he  was  reading  aloud  in  such 
impassioned  tones.  And  yet  the  game  had  been 
Tier  own  proposition,  and  she  had  entered  into  the 
arrangements  with  all  ardor  and  enthusiasm,  till, 
npon  drawing  lots  for  the  leadership,  fickle  fortune 
had  bestowed  it  upon  Christabelle  and  Marcia. 
Then  she  suddenly  discovered  that  the  day  was  too 
warm ;  that  croquet  on  such  a  morning  would  be 
insufferable  ;  and  sailed  majestically  off,  bearing 
her  preux  chevalier  with  her ;  not,  however,  able 
entirely  to  suppress  a  rising  flush,  when  Mta,  with 
more  shrewdness  than  was  agreeable,  exclaimed  : 
"  JSTow,  Jennie,  don't  put  on  airs  !  Cousin  Marcia 
couldn't  help  getting  the  shortest  straw." 

"  Ces  enfants  terribles  !  "  she  exclaimed,  shrug 
ging  her  shoulders  ;  and  then  with  a  look  at  her 
companion  that  would  have  tempted  that  bedazzled 
gentleman  to  the  very  wilds  of  Siberia,  "Come,. 
Mr.  Aubrey,  give  me  something  from  that  tell-tale 
volume  that  peeps  so  suggestively  from  your 
treacherous  pocket ! " 

Alas  for  Jennie !    She  would  not  serve  where 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  109 

she  could  not  reign.  "La  reine  le  vent!"  had 
"been  her  motto  from  early  childhood,  and  she 
could  not  bear  to  have  her  sovereignty  disputed 
even  in  trifles  like  the  present.  Young  as  she  was, 
not  yet  fairly  launched  upon  the  world's  broad 
tide,  few  masculines  could  withstand  the  witchery 
of  her  wondrous  beauty,  and  she  had  already 
learned  to  know  her  power,  and  to  claim  this 
homage  as  her  right.  The  Kenneth  of  old,  too  boy 
ish  and  rough  for  her  precocious  ladyship,  she 
readily  yielded  to  Lottie  and  her  compeers  ;  but 
the  Kenneth  of  to-day  was  something  vastly  dif 
ferent,  and  she  could  illy  brook  that  he  should,  even 
in  jest,  yield  tribute  at  Marcia's  shrine.  "  Que  ces 
enfants  s'amusent ! "  said  she  contemptuously,  in 
terrupting  the  finest  stanza.  "  Marcia  surely  does 
not  know  how  frightfully  that  green  wreath  con 
trasts  with  her  sallow  complexion  !  " 

Her  cavalier  looked  up  with  the  bewildered  ex 
pression  of  one  startled  out  of  a  dream,  and  said 
musingly  : 

"  On  the  contrary,  I  think  it  is  vastly  becoming. 
Your  cousin  is  pale  rather  than  sallow,  and  I  must 
say  she  bears  her  unwonted  honors  most  grace 
fully." 

If  there  had  been  less  of  anger  and  more  of  sor- 


HO  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

row  in  the  look  which  Jennie  cast  on  |he  luckless 
speaker,  the  historic  "et  tu  Brute"  of  the  mur 
dered  Caesar  would  have  sunk  into  insignificance 
before  it,  and  there  is  no  conjecturing  what 
might  have  transpired,  if  Paul  had  not  at  that 
moment  come  to  the  rescue  of  the  unconscious 
offender. 

u  Jennie  !  "  called  he,  "  if  you  and  Mr.  Aubrey 
have  done  poetizing,  we  would  be  thankful  for  the 
honor  of  your  company.  We  are  discussing  Ken 
neth's  fete,  and  as  he  says  you  are  to  be  presiding 
genius  of  the  occasion,  he  won't  listen  to  any  plans 
that  have  not  received  your  sanction  !  " 

Thus  propitiated,  Jennie  arose,  affecting  not  to 
see  the  arm  which  Mr.  Aubrey  duly  offered  for  her 
acceptance,  and  bestowing  her  smiles  so  lavishly 
on  every  one  but  himself,  that  she  sent  that  gen 
tleman  off  into  such  a  fit  of  abstraction,  that  when, 
in  the  discussion  that  followed,  Lottie  asked  him 
if  he  had  ever  read  "  Robin  Hood,"  he  astonished 
her  by  repeating : 

"  O  woman !  in  our  hours  of  ease, 
Uncertain,  coy,  and  hard  to  please —  " 

coloring    violently,   when,   with  a    mischievous 
twinkle  in  her  eyes,  she  interrupted  him  with  an  : 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  HI 

"Excuse  .me,  Mr.  Aubrey,  but  I  don't  think 
that  quotation  occurs  in  Robin  Hood." 

Meanwhile  the  fete  was  talked  over  most  ani 
matedly  and  volubly  ;  some  were  at  first  in  favor 
of  a  masquerade,  but  these  were  soon  overruled 
by  the  majority,  with  Jennie  at  their  head,  who 
proposed,  as  an  a'mendment,  an  archery-meeting, 
with  the  participants  in  costume.  Jennie  was  to 
personate  Diana,  with  the  other  ladies  attired  as 
her  attendants,  while  Kenneth  and  his  friends  ap 
peared  as  Robin  Hood  and  his  merry  men.  No 
one,  not  even  Nita  and  Dick,  was  to  be  slighted 
on  this  occasion:  Kenneth  having  promised,  to 
their  infinite  delight,  that  they  should  each  have  a 
bow  and  arrows  and  shoot  at  the  target  with  the 
rest.  A  promise  which,  by  the  way,  was  very 
nearly  productive  of  disastrous  results,  as  the 
pair  forthwith  began  to  test  their  skill  in  the  most 
untoward  and  improbable  times  and  places.  The 
evening  was  to  conclude  with  fireworks  and  a 
grand  ball,  a  consummation  which  capped  the 
climax  of  Kenneth's  glory. 

"O  Kenneth,  that  will  be  royal!"  exclaimed 
Lottie  rapturously. 

"Your  munificence  wins  all  hearts!"  put  in 
Christabel,  pressing  her  own  in  comic  alarm. 


112  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

"We  will  dulb  yon  King  of  the  Genii,"  said 
Marcia,  "  and  your  mansion  the  Palace  of  Enchant 
ment." 

"Language  has  exhausted  itself,"  added  Jen 
nie  ;  "I  leave  you  to  imagine  my  sentiments." 

"Ladies,  you  overwhelm  me!"  began  Ken 
neth  with  a  profound  bow. 

"And  we  may  hang  our  diminished  heads,"  in 
terrupted  Fred.  Huntington.  "Honor  bright, 
Murray,  is  not  all  this  better  than  the  land  of 
castles  and  sauer-kraut,  frauleins  and  lager-beer." 

"Don't  be  too  sure  of  that!  "  exclaimed  Paul. 
"Ken  was  devoted  to  Vaterland  and  the  frauleins 
too,"  he  added  mischievously.  "I  have  one  in 
my  mind's  eye  now — the  'Maiden  of  Drachen- 
fels'  we  styled  her." 

"Now,  Paul,  none  of  your  traveller's  won 
ders!"  retorted  Kenneth.  "You  know  I  have 
always  been  a  most  loyal  American  citizen,  albeit 
not  of  African  descent;"  thus  attempting  by  a 
sorry  jest  to  hide  his  embarrassment  and  confu 
sion,  which  were  in  no  way  diminished  when  the 
irrepressible  Fred,  slightly  parodizing  an  old  fa 
miliar  ballad,  burst  forth  with  : 

"  My  heart's  in  the  Rhine-land, 

My  heart  is  not  here  ! 
My  heart's  in  the  Rhine-land, 
A-chasiug  a  '  dear  !  '  " 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  113 

"The  'Maiden  of  Drachenfels !'"  said  Lottie. 
"That  sounds  romantic;  and  by  the  way,  Ken 
neth,  was  it  not  at  Drachenfels  that  you  were  de 
tained  by  a  sprained  ankle,  or  something  of  the 
kind,  while  Paul  and  the  rest  of  your  party  were 
obliged  to  proceed  without  you  ? " 

"The  very  same,"  said  Paul  provokingly. 
"  And  I  can  assure  you  that  this  damsel  was  as 
likely  a  heroine  for  a  romance  as  you  would  care 
to  meet — 

"  '  Blue  eyes  she  had,  soft  tresses' 

of  spun-gold,  to  say  nothing  of  a  pale,  interesting 
father,  a  wood-carver  by  trade,  but  a  genius,  and 
intelligent  and  refined  above  his  station  ;  and  a  vix 
enish  dragon  of  a  mother,  who  doubtless  made 
it  uncomfortable  enough  for  the  household  at  times. 
Indeed,  we  can  never  forget  Drachenfels,  for  we 
left  in  a  perfect  blaze  of  glory  ;  the  eve  of  our 
departure  being  some  great  national  holiday, 
which  the  peasants  signalized  by  a  grand  ball, 
tableaux,  charades,  etc.,  in  which  we  all  took 
part.  Kenneth  and  our  pretty  maiden — " 

Here  the  flood-tide  of  reminiscence  was  suddenly 
arrested,  to  Kenneth's  infinite  relief,  by  Nita  and 
Dick,  who  at  that  moment  appeared,  running 
eagerly  towards  Paul,  and  shouting  in  one  breath  : 


114:  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

"Brother  Paul!  Brother  Paul!  Somebody's 
come,  and  he  says  he  knows  you  ! " 

"  Indeed  1 "  said  Paul  coolly.  "  Well,  who  is 
he,  and  what  does  he  look  like  ? " 

"We  don't  know  who  he  is,"  said  Nita,  "but 
he's  mighty  tall,  and  fierce,  and  black,  and  has 
eyes  that  feel  as  if  he  was  looking  holes  right 
through  you! " 

"And  such  a  mustache!"  added  Dick. 
"Just  as  if  he  had  swallowed  a  pair  of  Carlos  and 
left  their  tails  hanging  out.  I  mean  to  have  one 
just  like  it  when  I  am  a  man." 

"Eugene  Castlemar  to  a  notch  ! "  said  Paul,  ris 
ing  at  once,  and  off  he  strode,  leaving  Kenneth  to 
explain  that  the  newly  arrived  was  their  fellow-stu 
dent  at  Heidelberg,  who  afterwards  accompanied 
them  on  their  travels,  and  whom  he  and  Paul  had 
invited  to  visit  them.  Moreover,  that  he  was  a 
Cuban  by  birth,  of  Franco- Spanish  descent,  pos 
sessed  of  fabulous  estates  on  the  island,  and  as 
destitute  of  friends  as  Kenneth  himself.  He  had 
scarcely  time,  however,  to  give  these  particulars, 
ere  Paul  reappeared  with  the  gentleman  in  ques 
tion,  and  despite  the  rather  unflattering  descrip 
tion  of  the  children,  each  one  mentally  voted  him 
undeniably  and  unmistakably  handsome.  Tall 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  115 

and  distingu^  in  person,  with  an  innate  air  of 
"noblesse  oblige  "  that  seemed  to  have  been  born 
in  him,  he  presented  indeed  a  fine  type  of 
Southern  manhood.  His  hair  was  black  as  mid 
night,  and  even  through  the  heavy  mustache, 
which  had  so  challenged  Dick' s  admiration,  could 
be  discerned  the  scornful  curve  of  his  proud,  firm 
lip,  while  Christabel,  at  least,  endorsed  Nita's 
opinion  of  his  eyes,  for  she  nearly  convulsed 
Marcia  by  whispering  tragically  at  intervals,  "  My 
poor  heart!" — "I'm  riddled!" — "I'm  trans 
fixed  !  " — "I'm  done  for  !  "  etc.,  etc.,  though  Mar 
cia  afterwards  told  her  laughingly  that  she  did 
not  consider  his  orbs  at  all  dangerous  until  they 
were  fixed  on  Jennie,  and  then  the  flash  that  illu 
minated  them  might  have  penetrated  the  very 
depths  of  Hades. 

As  for  Jennie,  she  was  in  her  element,  witching 
smiles  and  beaming  glances  ;  sparkling  sallies  and 
melodious  ripples  of  laughter  made  her  so  fasci 
nating,  so  charming,  that  even  those  who  knew 
her  best  were  astonished.  True,  Fred  Huntington 
was  not  so  overpowered,  but  that  he  could  still 
chat  gayly  with  Marcia  and  Lottie  ;  and  Paul 
(being  a  brother)  was  not  to  be  lured  from  Chris 
tabel'  s  amusing  companionship  ;  but  Mr.  Aubrey 


116  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

looked  on  pale  and  moody  ;  Kenneth  hovered 
around  her  in  undisguised  admiration  ;  and  as  for 
the  poor  Cuban  it  was  easy  to  see  that  he  was  irre 
trievably  lost ;  chained  from  that  hour,  a  willing 
victim,  to  her  car  of  triumph. 

But  in  this  world  all  things  must  have  an  end, 
and  even  this  long  bright  summer  day  came  to  a 
close  at  last,  though  Mrs.  Elmore  claimed  the  entire 
party  both  for  dinner  and  for  tea  ;  and  the  moon  was 
casting  her  silvery  shadows  where  the  golden  sheen 
had  been,  before  they  finally  dispersed.  Kenneth 
in  virtue  of  his  superior  loneliness,  took  possession 
of  the  young  Cuban,  and  bore  him  off  to  the  Ivy, 
while  the  Huntingtons,  under  the  treble  escort  of 
Paul,  Lottie,  andMarcia,  took  the  short-cut  across 
the  shrubbery  to  their  domicile,  followed  by  Jen 
nie  and  Clifford  Aubrey,  who  was  again  in  the 
seventh  heaven  of  delight,  forgetful  that  when  the 
sun  is  absent  it  is  easy  to  say,  "  Vive  la  lune  !  " 
But  we  have  introduced  the  Huntingtons  so  un 
ceremoniously  into  our  midst,  that  we  have  not 
taken  time  to  explain  that  they  are  the  nearest 
neighbors  of  the  Elmores,  and  that  the  friend 
ship  between  the  families  is  of  such  long  standing 
as  to  be  almost  traditional.  Deprived  of  their 
mother  when  mere  infants,  their  father  has  made 


EBOUT  AND   GOLD  117 

it  the  object  of  his  life  to  pet  and  spoil  both  Fred 
and  Christabel,  an  undertaking  in  which  he  has 
been  most  ably  seconded  by  Miss  Arabella  Hunt- 
ington,  his  maiden  sister,  to  whom  her  brother  and 
his  motherless  children  are  the  very  centres  of  ex 
istence.  Clifford  Aubrey  was  the  son  of  an  old 
friend,  who,  on  dying,  bequeathed  him  to  Mr. 
Huntington's  care  ;  but  he  has  some  time  since 
arrived  at  man's  estate,  and  for  a  year  past  has 
been  located  in  New  York  City,  where  he  is  already 
spoken  of  as  a  young  lawyer  of  brilliant  promise. 
His  adoration  of  Jennie  dated  back  to  his  very 
childhood,  and  although  no  words  had  ever  passed 
on  the  subject,  his  claims  as  her  privileged  attend 
ant  had  always  been  tacitly  acknowledged,  and 
until  this  morning  it  had  never  occured  to  him 
that  they  might  one  day  be  disputed.  The  pang 
of  the  awakening  had  been  so  bitter,  so  intense, 
that  now  that  she  was  smiling  again,  he  was  glad 
to  lull  it  to  sleep  and  dream  once  more.  But  when 
she  had  gone,  the  pang  returned,  and  the  visions 
that  haunted  him  were  not  all  rosy  ones,  as  he 
paced  the  terrace  till  long  past  midnight,  smoking 
his  solitary  cigar. 

Jennie,  too,  was  wakeful  that  night,  and  sat  a 
long  time  absorbed  in  thought,  not  of  the  young 


118  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

Cuban  with  his  eyes  of  flame,  nor  yet  of  the  soli 
tary  smoker  ;  but,  as  she  did  not  tell  her  thoughts 
even  to  the  silent  moon,  it  is  not  for  us  to  betray 
them.  Sufficient  to  say  that  the  expression  of  her 
beautiful  face,  despite  the  softened  radiance  that 
fell  around  it,  was  neither  gentle  nor  loving.  And 
Marcia !  long  after  Lottie  was  locked  in  slumber, 
she  sat  at  her  window  and  gazed  at  the  broad 
Hudson  spreading  out  in  the  distance  like  a  sheet 
of  molten  silver,  saying  with  a  sigh,  as  she  turned 
to  seek  her  couch  at  last : 

"  I  wonder  if  the  moon  shone  as  brightly  at 
Drachenfels ! " 


CHAPTER  X. 

"  And  who  with  clear  account  remarks 

The  ebbings  of  his  glass, 
When  all  its  sands  are  diamond  sparks 
That  draggle  as  they  pass  ?  " 


"HE  day  of  Kenneth's  fete  dawned,  "bright 
and  beautiful  as  even  our  young  friends 
could  desire.  Kenneth  had  spared  neither 
trouble  nor  expense,  and  the  Ivy  had  donned  a  fes 
tive  aspect  in  marked  contrast,  though  not  out  of 
harmony,  with  its  venerable  antiquity.  Within, 
flowers  were  massed  in  every  conceivable  manner 
of  adornment,  even  festooning  the  walls,  garland 
ing  the  pictures,  and  depending  gracefully  from 
the  chandeliers  ;  while  without,  the  grounds  were 
gay  with  brightly  colored  marquees  for  ices  and 
refreshments ;  impromptu  bowers,  that  seemed 
transported  from  fairyland  for  the  occasion,  and 
the  trees  were  hung  with  Chinese  lanterns  which 
were  to  be  illuminated  at  nightfall.  As  the  ap- 


120  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

pointed  hour  drew  near,  bands  of  musicians  dis 
coursed  lively  strains  from  various  quarters ; 
carriage-load  after  carriage- load  of  guests  swept 
up  the  broad  avenue  to  be  duly  welcomed  by  Aunt 
Lucia  and  Miss  Arabella  Huntington,  who  had 
consented  to  matronize  the  entertainment.  The  tall 
mirrors  of  the  guest-chambers,  polished  by  Mrs. 
Jeffries  to  the  last  degree  of  brightness,  once  more 
reflected  youthful  forms  and  smiling  faces ;  the 
halls  resounded  with  peals  of  merry  laughter  ;  the 
disused  ball-room  was  thrown  open  to  the  free  air 
and  blessed  sunshine,  and  the  deserted  mansion, 
awakened  from  its  long  Rip  Van  Winkle  sleep, 
teemed  at  once  with  life  and  animation. 

Toilets  retouched  and  curls  adjusted,  the  archery- 
meeting  of  course  became  the  central  point  of  at 
tention,  and  every  one  made  a  rush  for  that  por 
tion  of  the  grounds  where  the  targets  had  been  set 
up.  As  the  bugles  gave  the  signal  to  advance,  and 
Jennie  appeared  attired  as  Diana  with  her  band  of 
attendant  vestals,  a  murmur  of  admiration  passed 
through  the  throng.  Regally  beautiful  she  looked 
in  her  robes  of  green  and  silver,  the  satin  vest  with 
its  rich  embroidery  displaying  to  advantage  the 
superb  outlines  of  her  rounded  form  ;  while  the 
deepening  flush  that  glowed  upon  the  damask 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  121 

cheek  served  to  render  becoming  a  color  not  usu 
ally  favored  -by  brunettes ;  and  the  silver  quiver 
filled  with  feathery  arrows  hanging  at  her  side, 
the  bow  with  its  many  colored  ribbons,  which  she 
held  in  her  hand,  and  the  crescent  which  sur 
mounted  her  raven  tresses,  all  seemed  the  perfect 
parts  of  a  most  perfect  whole.  Close  behind  her 
walked  Marcia.  Her  dress,  as  that  of  the  other 
attendants,  corresponded  exactly  with  Jennie's,  ex 
cept  that  a  silver  star  twinkled  where  the  crescent 
gleamed  in  the  bright  June  sunshine  ;  but  there 
was  an  exquisite  refinement  in  the  delicately 
cMselled  features  and  the  clear,  pale  face,  to  which 
not  even  the  excitement  of  the  moment  could  lend 
more  than  the  faintest  tinge  of  rose  ;  a  wondrous 
light  in  the  shadowy  eyes  ;  a  witching  charm  in 
the  smile  that  played  about  the  finely  curved 
mouth  ;  a  nobility  in  the  fair  broad  brow,  above 
which  the  star  shone  so  fittingly,  that  caused  more 
than  one  pair  of  eyes  to  turn  from  her  handsome 
cousin  and  rest  admiringly  on  her.  With  her 
usual  forgetfulness  of  self,  Marcia  was  unconscious 
of  this,  but  Jennie  saw  it  and  was  vexed.  She  did 
not  begrudge  the  smiling  tribute  paid  to  the  brown- 
haired  Lottie,  the  golden-haired  Christabel,  and 
the  others  of  her  band  who  could  all  claim  their 

6 


122  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

meed  of  loveliness  ;  but  to  Marcia  she  could  not 
spare  one  drop  of  the  adulation  with  which  her 
cup  was  overflowing. 

But  although  we  agree  that  the  ladies  should 
"be  first,  we  have  not  the  gallantry  to  say  with  the 
courteous  Frenchman  :  "  Toujours  les  dames  !  " 
and  must  devote  a  few  words  to  the  gentlemen,  who, 
with  Kenneth  at  their  head,  certainly  made  a  most 
presentable  band  of  outlaws.  Their  plumed  hats 
and  doublets  of  Lincoln  green,  and  the  silver 
bugles  at  their  sides,  made  a  most  picturesque  cos 
tume,  contrasting  charmingly  with  the  more  daz 
zling  and  ethereal  attire  of  the  ladies. 

The  shooting  began,  and  at  the  first  round  Jen 
nie's  arrow  was  declared  to  be  nearest  the  magic 
centre,  even  excelling  that  of  the  Cuban  by  the 
moiety  of  an  inch.  Kenneth  and  Paul,  fresh  from 
the  shooting-galleries  of  Germany,  were  aston 
ished  to  find  themselves  wide  of  the  mark  ;  Fred 
Huntington  was  no  better  off,  though  in  fact  the 
misfortune  was  shared  by  a  score  of  others  ;  and 
as  for  Aubrey,  he  was  too  engrossed  in  the  contem 
plation  of  Jennie  to  make  any  but  random  shots. 
On  the  next  trial,  Marcia' s  arrow  was  found  close 
to  Jennie's,  a  trifle  nearer  the  inner  circle  ;  but  on 
the  third  and  decisive  round,  victory  declared 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  123 

itself  in  another  and  most  unexpected  quarter. 
Whether  the  result  of  one  of  those  blind  chances 
which  fickle  fortune  sometimes  casts  in  the  way  of 
us  all,  or  of  a  skill  acquired  at  the  imminent  risk 
of  all  mirrors,  statuary,  and  other  fragile  commodi 
ties  of  Glen  Eden,  Dick's  final  arrow  pierced  the 
very  centre,  proclaiming  him,  to  the  unspeaka 
ble  delight  of  his  "boon  companion,  Mta,  and  his 
own  infinite  amazement,  undoubted  winner  of  the 
prize,  a  handsome  bow  and  arrows,  which  the 
umpire  presented  to  him  with  due  ceremonies  and 
congratulations. 

After  this  denouement,  the  fair  archers  dis 
persed;  and  as  refreshments  were  next  in  order, 
the  inviting  marquees,  dotted  around  so  tempt 
ingly,  came  in  for  their  share  of  attention.  In  the 
gayest  of  all  these  receptacles  Jennie  held  her 
court.  Her  position  as  young  lady  hostess  of 
course  entitled  her  to  Kenneth's  especial  escort ; 
the  smitten  Cuban  had  not  taken  his  eyes  off  her 
during  the  entire  afternoon  ;  and  Clifford  Aubrey, 
fully  awakened  to  the  precarious  nature  of  his 
claims,  followed  her  about  in  desperation,  half 
expecting  each  moment  to  see  her  vanish  from 
his  sight,  while  numerous  lesser  constellations 
swelled  her  train,  and  vainly  endeavored  to  shine 


124:  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

by  her  reflected  light.  Jennie,  true  to  her  co 
quettish  instincts,  was  fully  equal  to  the  occa 
sion. 

"Mr.  Castlemar,"  said  she,  "my  cavalier,  in 
his  capacity  of  host,  is  overwhelmed  with  respon 
sibilities.  Please  consent  to  "be  my  Gannymede, 
and  bring  me  a  glass  of  that  delicious  lemonade." 

"  Oh,  my  pretty  "bouquet !  Save  it,  Mr.  Au 
brey  !  "  detaching  a  bud  as  he  restored  it,  and  be 
stowing  it  upon  him  with  a  gracious  smile  that 
thrilled  him  with  delight. 

"I  suppose,  Mr.  Leslie,  this  is  to  be  cherished 
for  the  giver's  sake,"  said  she,  with  a  light  laugh, 
but  a  look  that  spoke  volumes,  as  she  accepted  a 
bon-bon  from  another  of  her  devotees,  who,  being 
young  and  rather  diffident,  actually  colored  with 
pleasure. 

And  thus,  a  smile  for  one,  a  look,  a  nod,  or  a 
word  for  another,  she  held  them  all  spell-bound, 
to  the  wonderment  of  Lottie,  who,  innocent  of 
such  wiles,  was  enjoying  herself  hugely,  near  by, 
with  a  crowd  of  what  Jennie  would  have  con 
temptuously  designated  "girls  and  boys" 

Marcia  was  not  quite  so  fortunate.  Fate  had 
destined  to  her  a  gushing  young  collegian,  whose 
specialty  seemed  to  be  to  string  together  all  sorts 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  125 

of  meaningless  phrases  about  starry  eyes,  alabas 
ter  brows,  and  raven  tresses,  illustrating  them 
with  occasional  quotations,  brought  out  with  such 
spasmodic  rolling  of  the  eyes  and  surprising  con 
tortions  of  face  and  limb,  that  Marcia  at  first  did 
not  know  whether  to  be  amused  or  alarmed.  For 
example,  having  rather  exhausted  the  eyes  and 
the  hair,  and  his  stock  of  literature  pertaining 
thereto,  he  said,  after  a  pause : 

11  Miss  Lyle,  those  spotless  gloves  look  chawm- 
ing  on  your  lily  hands.  They  do,  indeed.  And 
I'm  a  judge  of  gloves  ;  anybody  can  tell  you  I 
was  the  best  judge  of  gloves  at  college.  That  re 
minds  me— aw — who  is  it  ?  Shakespeare  ?  Yes,  it 
must  be  Shakespeare  who  says — aw — 

"  '  Would  I  were  the  glove  upon  thy  hand, 
That  I  might  touch  thy  cheek ! ' " 

And  here  his  pale  blue  orbs  disappeared  so 
alarmingly,  that  Fred  Huntington,  who  was  just 
then  passing  by  with  an  ice,  whispered  mischiev 
ously  : 

"Miss  Marcia,  where' s  your  soothing-syrup? 
Fitz-Noodle' s  cutting  his  eye-teeth,  and  he  takes 
it  hard." 

Marcia  turned  her  head  away  to  hide  her  smiles, 
shaking  her  finger  reprovingly  at  the  naughty 


126  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

Fred;  and  at  the  same  moment,  the  handsome 
Harry  Clifton  came  up,  and  protesting  against 
monopolies,  bore  her  off  in  triumph,  while  her 
companion  was  pondering  in  what  direction  he 
would  take  his  next  Parnassian  flight.  The  rest 
of  the  evening  was  like  a  fairy-tale.  Marcia  had 
never  seen  a  ball-room  before  ;  and  the  brilliant 
lights,  the  inspiring  music,  and  the  mazy  dance, 
seemed  to  her  a  beautiful  dream.  Partners 
crowded  around  her,  and  when  the  knight  of  the 
gloves  appeared,  he  found  his  chances  already  at 
telescopic  distance.  Paul  laughingly  declared 
that  his  were  entirely  out  of  sight ;  and  even 
Kenneth's  turn  came  late  in  the  evening;  but  it 
came  at  last,  and  once  secured,  he  seemed  loth  to 
relinquish  it.  For  Marcia' s  dancing  was,  in  truth, 
the  very  poetry  of  motion,  and  she  entered  into  it 
with  a  grace  and  animation  that  fairly  idealized  it. 
But  when  their  long  waltz  was  finished,  and  Ken 
neth,  instead  of  giving  her  a  seat  in  the  ball-room, 
led  her  out  on  the  terrace,  where  the  full  moon 
was  lending  the  brightness  of  noonday  to  the  fair 
June  night,  she  gave  a  sigh  of  relief.  The  strains 
of  the  band  still  came  to  them  through  the  open 
windows  ;  but  mellowed  by  distance,  they  seemed 
no  longer  gay  but  exquisitely  soft  and  sweet. 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  127 

The  colored  lights  still  glimmered  in  the  foliage, 
but  the  lawn  was  deserted  ;  and  the  peace  and 
quietness  of  the  hour  brooded  over  the  late  scene 
of  revelry  and  mirth.  For  a  time  they  walked  up 
and  down  without  speaking ;  one,  at  least,  drink 
ing  in  the  loveliness  around  her,  till  her  whole 
countenance  seemed  transfigured  ;  and  when  at 
last  her  companion  interrupted  her  with : 

"  What  are  you  thinking  about,  Miss  Marcia  ? " 
She   answered  him  slowly,  as  if  reluctant  to 
come  back  to  earth  again  : 

"  Oh,  of  a  great  many  things — almost  too  many 
and  too  vague  for  speech;  but  at  that  moment 
this  line  was  in  my  mind  : 

"  '  The  moon  looks  on  many  brooks ;  the  brook  sees  bnt  one  moon.' 

And  I  was  thinking  what  a  pity  it  is,  that  anything 
so  fair  and  bright  should  have  been  chosen  as  the 
emblem  of  inconstancy." 

"Then  you  must  rank  constancy  among  the 
cardinal  virtues?" 

"Certainly  ;  Constancy  and  Truth,  twin  blos 
soms  of  Faith,  the  highest  and  noblest  of  all  vir 
tues.  Indeed,  I  cannot  well  imagine  any  true 
nobility  of  character  without  them." 

"And  yet  in  the  long  list  of  heroes  held  up  to 


128  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

us  for  admiration,  there  are  few  who  have  not 
"been  sadly  lacking  Iboth  in  the  one  and  the  other. 
In  fact,  the  most  brilliant  successes  have  been 
achieved  by  diplomacy  and  intrigue  ;  and  in  the 
world's  record  there  are  few  George  Washing- 
tons." 

"That  is  too  true  ;  but  I  still  maintain  that  con 
stancy  and  truth  are  not  only  the  insignia  of  all 
real  nobility  of  character,  but,  in  a  certain  sense, 
the  essential  elements  of  success.  The  laurels  of 
victory  are  won  only  by  those  who,  having  made 
for  themselves  some  great  aim,  have  remained 
true  to  it  in  spite  of  dangers  and  difficulties,  pur 
suing  it  steadfastly  even  to  the  goal." 

"Well  argued,  my  fair  enthusiast ;  but  that  is 
not  so  broad  a  view  of  the  subject  as  I  antici 
pated.  And  yet  what  could  a  broader  view  bring 
but  sad  thoughts.  Heads  that  are  crowned  with 
the  silver  of  age  and  experience  tell  us  that  those 
who  have  the  most  faith  in  the  world' s  chivalry 
suffer  the  greatest  disappointment.  In  the  morn 
ing  of  youth,  we  take  '  Excelsior '  for  our  motto, 
and  start  out  clad  in  the  armor  of  high  thoughts 
and  lofty  aspirations,  our  Ithurial  spears  levelled 
against  the  Protean  forms  of  falsehood  and  deceit ; 
but  alas  !  the  evening  finds  us  with  our  armor 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  129 

riven  by  many  a  shock,  our  spear  shivered,  our 
banner  trailing  in  the  dust.  Ah !  it  is  well  that 
we  cannot  read  the  future  !  But,"  he  added, 
"how  strange  that,  with  such  a  sentiment  upon 
my  lips,  our  wanderings  have  led  us  to  the  very 
spot  tradition  has  made  sacred  -as  the  abode  of 
the  oracle  ! " 

And  in  fact,  absorbed  in  conversation,  they  had 
unconsciously  left  the  terrace,  and  now  stood  at 
the  entrance  of  what  appeared  to  be  a  subterranean 
grotto  of  considerable  extent.  To-night,  however, 
it  was  brilliantly  illuminated  with  colored  lights, 
and  rustic  seats  were  scattered  here  and  there  for 
the  accommodation  of  those  who  might  wish  to 
penetrate  its  recesses. 

"Has  not  Lottie  initiated  you  into  the  myste 
ries  of  'Sybil's  Cave'  ?"  asked  Kenneth,  observ 
ing  Marcia's  look  of  surprise.  "Then  let  us 
enter  and  I  will  do  so.  The  legend  says,  that 
some  time  far  away  in  the  misty  long-ago,  one  of 
my  ancestors,  while  journeying  in  the  sunny  land 
of  the  Alhambra,  encountered  a  young  gypsy 
maiden,  who  so  captivated  him  that  he  married 
her  in  spite  of  the  opposition  of  her  tribe,  and 
bore  her  off  to  his  own  home.  But  the  chilly 

clime  and  the  customs  of  civilization  did  not  suit 
6* 


130  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

this  child  of  the  wild  wood,  and  she  pined  away 
and  died.  Strange  to  say,  on  the  very  morning  of 
her  death  a  band  of  gypsies  made  their  appear 
ance  in  the  neighborhood;  and  one  of  them,  a 
withered  old  hag,  by  what  means  could  never  be 
discovered,  found  an  entrance  to  the  death- 
chamber.  It  was  the  old  grand-dame  of  the 
maiden,  and  long  and  loud  were  her  lamentations 
over  her  poor  withered  blossom.  At  length  she 
raised  her  fleshless  hand  to  curse  my  stricken  an 
cestor,  but  she  read  the  grief  that  was  in  his  face, 
and  forbore.  He  would  have  lavished  gifts  upon 
her,  and  welcomed  her  to  his  home  for  the  sake 
of  his  lost  darling ;  but  she  would  accept  no  favor 
at  his  hands,  except  the  privilege  of  encamping 
on  his  grounds,  and  the  exclusive  right  to  this 
cave,  where  she  would  mysteriously  reappear  at 
long  intervals,  reading  the  future  of  the  credulous 
who  offered  their  palms  for  her  inspection,  and 
if  the  legend  may  be  believed,  making  predictions 
that  were  startlingly  accurate.  The  precise  time 
and  place  of  her  death  are  not  known,  and  indeed 
there  is  a  supposition  extant,  that  her  spirit  still 
haunts  the  spot  that  was  her  refuge  in  life." 

"What  a  wonderful  influence  the  imagination 
has  over  us  !  "  exclaimed  Marcia,  who  had  been 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  131 

listening  intently.  "A  moment  ago  I  entered 
this  cave  with  but  a  passing  thought  of  its  beauty, 
and  now  I  almost  fancy  I  can  see  the  form  of  the 
old  grand-dame  lurking  in  the  shadows,  and  hear 
mysterious,  inarticulate  whispers  echoing  from  the 
enchanted  walls." 

"Nay  !  to  temperaments  lofty  and  poetic  like 
yours,  transparent  indeed  is  the  veil  that  divides 
this  material  world  from  the  world  of  spirits  ;  and 
visions  may  be  vouchsafed  to  you,  of  which  our 
grosser  natures  would  have  no  conception  ;  and  I 
prefer  to  think  that  those  shadowy  eyes  have  in 
deed  penetrated  the  unknown  land ;  that  your 
pure  soul  has  indeed  caught  breathings  of  the 
celestial  sphere  ;  that — " 

"  Beware ! "  at  this  moment  uttered  a  voice  so 
near  them,  that  they  both  started  with  one  com 
mon  impulse,  while  a  light,  mocking  laugh  rang 
upon  their  ears.  Before  them  stood,  not  indeed 
the  old  grand-dame,  but  a  veritable  gypsy 
maiden,  her  long,  black  hair  flowing  unconfined 
over  her  shoulders,  from  which  hung  a  scarlet 
cloak,  while  her  gold-laced  velvet  bodice,  her 
many-colored  short  skirt,  and  her  sandalled  feet 
gave  a  picturesque  effect  to  her  weird  beauty. 


132  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

Marcia  was  speechless  with  awe  and  amazement, 
"but  Kenneth  exclaimed : 

"  Who  are  you !'  and  how  came  you  hither  ? " 

"  Oh,  I  am  a  merry,  merry,  merry  Zingara, 
From  a  golden  clime  I  come  !  " 

sang  she  gayly,  while  her  feet  kept  time  to  the 
stirring  measure.  Then  with  a  sudden  change  of 
mood,  she  gravely  approached  Kenneth,  saying  : 

"I  came  here  with  a  portion  of  our  tribe,  who 
have  spread  their  tents  in  your  woods  to-night, 
"but  who  will  vanish  with  the  dews  of  the  morning. 
The  legend  of  the  'Sybil's  Cave'  is  not  lost 
among  us,  and  I  had  a  mind  to  visit  it.  But," 
said  she,  extending  her  hand  coaxingly  towards 
him,  "you  will  cross  my  palm  with  silver,  and  let 
me  read  what  the  fates  have  in  store  for  you  and 
the  beautiful  senora  ?  " 

"  Nay  !  I  have  no  wish  to  unveil  the  shrouded 
future  !  "  said  he,  springing  back  ;  and  then  with 
a  l&ugh  at  his  own  reluctance,  he  added :  "but 
stay  !  this  is  the  '  Sybil's  Cave,'  and  the  time  and 
place  give  you  an  ancestral  right  to  display  your 
powers.  Miss  Marcia,  what  say  you  3  shall  we 
entrust  our  destiny  to  this  oracle  2" 

Marcia  assented,  and  extended  her  hand  to  the 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  •  133 

gypsy  maiden,  who  took  it  in  her  own,  gazing  at 
it  long  and  fixedly,  and  at  last  murmuring  in  a 
low,  chanting  tone : 

"  Maiden  of  the  midnight  eyes, 
Danger  nrthe  present  lies  ; 
Sunshine  lingers  on  thy  way, 
But  the  hidden  storm-fiends  play 
In  each  circling  gleam  of  light, 
Heralds  of  a  starless  night ; 
Yet  awhile  thy  bark  shall  glide 
Smoothly  o'er  the  slumbering  tide  ; 
But  the  tempest  shall  at  last 
Bend  and  break  ifc  'neath  the  blast, 
Ere  the  wrathful  fury  o'er ; 
Frowning  skies  may  smile  once  more. 
On  a  still  and  pulseless  breast, 
Weary  hands  must  folded  rest ; 
Asure  eyes  must  cease  to  glow  ; 
Golden  locks,  in  death  lie  low, 
Ere  the  heart  thy  tendrils  twine, 
May  responsive  beat  to  thine. " 

A  long,  shuddering  sigh  burst  from  Marcia's  lips 
as  the  incantation  ceased  ;  and  Kenneth,  extend 
ing  his  hand,  said  mockingly  :  "  Your  predictions 
are  too  melancholy,  my  fair  seeress !  could  you 
not  invoke  a  brighter  destiny  for  so  lovely  a 
lady?" 

"I  can  only  repeat  what  it  is  given  to  one  to 
utter,"  said  the  gypsy  gravely,  looking  ear 
nestly  at  the  broad  palm  before  her ;  and,  im- 


134:  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

pressed,  in  spite  of  himself,  by  the  solemnity  of 
her  manner,  Kenneth  remained  silent  till  she  again 
burst  forth : 

"  Scion  of  a  knightly  race, 
Tall  of  form  and  fair  of  face, 
Would  you  to  that  race  be  true, 
Do  no  deed  that  you  may  rue. 
Have  a  care  !    Have  a  care  1 " 

"  Azure  eyes  and  locks  of  gold 
In  their  thrall  your  future  hold ; 
Thrall  you  may  not,  cannot  break. 
For  the  dark-haired  maiden's  sake, 
Oh  beware  !     Oh  beware ! 

' '  Ask  not  smiles  you  may  not  give, 
Wake  not  hopes  that  may  not  live ; 
Bear  the  grief  that  none  may  share, 
Win  not  hearts  you  may  not  wear. 
Have  a  care  I    Have  a  care  ! " 

As  the  last  words  died  away,  Kenneth  looked 
up  ;  but  the  gypsy  had  already  vanished,  and 
leaving  the  grotto,  he  and  Marcia  retraced  their 
steps  to  the  house,  with  a  shadow  on  their  bright 
mood,  which  they  vainly  tried  to  dispel.  They 
found  the  guests  already  preparing  to  depart,  and 
soon  the  Ivy  was  once  more  left  to  darkness  and 
obscurity,  and  Kenneth's  fete  had  become  a  mem 
ory  of  the  past. 

Jennie  and  Lottie  were  in    high  spirits,  and 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  135 

chatted  gayly  all  the  way  home,  so  that  Marcia's 
abstraction  was  not  noticed  till,  as  they  entered 
their  room  to  retire  for  the  night,  Lottie  ex 
claimed:  "Why,  Marcia !  what  is  the  matter? 
you  look  as  if  you  had  seen  a  ghost  1 " 

"  And  so  I  have  !  the  ghost  of  the  future  !  "  re 
plied  the  young  girl ;  but  nature  and  youth  as 
serted  themselves,  and  when  she  went  to  bed,  she 
soon  fell  asleep,  dreaming  strangely  enough  that 
she  was  drowning  in  the  torrent  of  Drachenfels, 
and  that  the  gypsy  maiden  was  trying  to  rescue 
her  with  a  braid  of  her  long  black  hair. 


CHAPTER  XL 

"Break,  break,  break, 
At  the  foot  of  thy  crags,  0  Sea! 
But  the  tender  grace  of  a  day  that  is  dead 
Will  never  come  back  to  me.  " 


"  What  is  there  left  for  me  to  do, 
But  fly,  fly 
From  the  cruel  sky, 
And  hide  in  the  deeps,  and  die  !  " 


was  market-day  in  a  small  town  of  one  of 
the  little  hamlets  on  the  Rhine,  andtheHerr 
Pastor  had  been  literally  besieged  with 
callers.  It  was  plain  to  be  seen  that  his  worthy 
flock,  while  they  availed  themselves  of  this  op 
portunity  to  dispose  of  their  various  commodi 
ties,  and  provide  themselves  with  whatever  was 
useful  or  needful,  did  not  neglect  to  apply  for 
sympathy  in  their  sorrows  and  counsel  in  their 
difficulties  to  the  good  man  who  had  proved 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  137 

himself  to  be  so  truly  their  friend  and  father.  In 
deed,  Frau  Witka,  the  house-keeper  and  maid-of- 
all-work,  whose  face  was  usually  as  shining  as  the 
great  brass  knocker  she  rubbed  each  morning  with 
anxious  care,  looked  almost  cross,  when,  just  as 
she  had  closed  the  door  upon  what  she  devoutly 
hoped  might  prove  the  last  visitor,  a  summons 
smote  upon  her  ear,  louder  and  more  peremptory 
than  any  that  had  preceded  it. 

"Oh  !  is  it  you,  Frau  Waldemar?"  said  she, 
as  she  admitted  the  new-comer.  "The  master  has 
had  many  a  visitor  this  day,  poor  bodies,  who 
must  run  to  him  if  they  but  lose  a  groschen  or 
scratch  a  little  finger  ;  not  like  you,  who  are  feel 
ing  the  hand  of  the  Lord  too  heavy  to  come  gab 
bling  at  trifles." 

"You  never  spoke  truer,  Frau  Witka,"  said 
the  other,  glancing  at  her  black  gown  as  if  she 
felt  a  sort  of  complacency  in  her  woe  ;  "  but  after 
all,  the  dead  trouble  is  not  so  bad  as  the  living 
one,  and  it's  about  that  I  have  come  to  the  mas 
ter." 

"  And  you  could  not  come  to  a  better.  If  ever 
there  was  a  good  man  it' s  the  master  ;  so  go  in  at 
once,  and  maybe  when  you  have  talked  with  him, 
you  will  feel  like  having  a  word  with  me  in  my 


138  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

kitchen.  There' s  nothing  so  good  for  a  trouble  as 
talking  it  over." 

Fran  Waldemar  shook  her  head  with  an  air 
of  mournful  superiority,  as  if  to  insinuate  that 
talking  could  do  no  good  in  her  case,  and 
tapping  on  the  door  of  the  study,  was  admitted 
at  once. 

"How  are  you,  my  good  woman?"  said  the 
pastor,  rising  to  meet  her,  "  and  how  is  the  Fr'au- 
lein  Hilda?" 

"Bad  enough!  "bad  enough!"  replied  his 
visitor.  "She  has  fretted  and  moped  till  her 
cheeks  are  as  white  as  a  wheaten-loaf,  and  her 
eyes  are  almost  lost  with  weeping." 

"Poor  child!"  said  the  pastor  compassion 
ately  ;  "  she  had  a  great  love  for  her  father." 

"So  great  that  there  was  naught  left  for  her 
mother!"  said  the  frau  sharply.  "They  were 
forever  clacking  with  their  books,  and  their 
flowers,  and  what  not,  and  who  was  to  help  me 
with  the  scrubbin'  and  the  spinnin'  ?  But  it's 
my  mind  (God  forgive  her !)  that  it's  not  her 
father  (peace  to  his  soul !)  that  she  grieves  about, 
so  much  as  it  is  her  lover  !  " 

"Ha!  are  there  yet  no  tidings?  She  should 
have  heard  ere  this  ? " 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  139 

"Not  a  word;  and  it's  enough  to  put  one 
beside  one's  self,  to  see  how  red  her  cheeks  get 
and  how  bright  her  eyes,  every  evening  as  the 
boat  passes  the  landing,  only  to  look  paler 
and  duller  than  ever  when  it  goes  on  without 
stopping ! " 

"Poor  child!  poor  child!"  again  exclaimed 
the  pastor.  "But  if  that  young  man  is  false, 
there  is  no  faith  in  the  human  countenance. 
And  yet,"  he  added  hesitatingly,  "his  manner 
always  seemed  to  me  more  that  of  a  friend  than  of 
a  lover! " 

"  Ay  !  ay  !  "  retorted  the  frau.  "  So  says  the 
silly  girl  herself,  whenever  I  begin  to  rate  him. 
'  Mother,'  says  she,  '  it  is  all  my  fault :  he 
never  told  me  that  he  was  my  lover ! '  As  if  I 
had  not  eyes  and  ears  of  my  own — as  if  Farmer 
Gottlieb's  son  wouldn't  have  kissed  the  very 
dust  of  her  feet  before  she  turned  her  back  on 
him  for  the  young  foreigner.  Lover  or  not,  she 
has  claims  on  him,  and  we  will  see  if  he  dares  to 
deny  them!  " 

"She  has  indeed;  God  help  them  both!" 
almost  groaned  the  good  pastor.  "Poor  frau- 
lein !  Poor  young  man !  " 

"Poor  young    man!"    fairly  shrieked   Frau 


UO  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

Waldemar,  forgetting  her  awe  in  her  wrath. 
"Poor  young  man!  Is  my  child's  heart  then 
worth  so  little,  that  it  may  be  despised  and 
cast  away,  and  you,  who  have  held  her  in  your 
arms  a  little  baby,  have  naught  to  say  but,  '  Poor 
young  man  ! '  I  will  follow  him  to  the  world' s 
end,  but  what  I  will  find  him,  and  the  curse— 

"Hold ! "  interrupted  the  pastor  authoritatively. 
"  Remember  the  young  man  is  perhaps  still  in 
ignorance  of  the  tie  that  binds  him  to  your 
daughter.  I  believe  them  both  to  be  victims  of 
a  cruel  joke,  and  Hans  Gottlieb  will  yet  live  to 
rue  his  sorry  revenge  for  the  slights  of  his  lady 
love.  If  the  Divine  Master  did  not  teacli  us  to 
bless  rather  than  curse,  my  curses  should  rest  on 
him,  the  author  of  so  much  misery.  "But," 
he  continued  more  calmly,  "perhaps  my  letter 
has  not  been  received.  I  will  write  again, 
this  very  night ;  and  in  the  meantime,  my  good 
friend,  be  patient  and  keep  your  own  counsel, 
and  oh !  be  tender  and  gentle  to  my  poor  little 
Hilda!" 

Frau  Waldemar  raised  her  head,  as  if  to 
utter  an  indignant  remonstrance  at  this  parting 
injunction;  but  there  was  something  so  com 
manding  and  at  the  same  time  so  sorrowful  in  the 


EBON  AND  GOLD. 


face  of  the  pastor,  that  it  checked  the  words 
on  her  lips  and  she  silently  left  the  room  and 
wended  her  way  homeward,  without  the  bit  of 
gossip  with  the  expectant  Frau  Witka. 

Unfortunately  this  softening  influence  had  time 
to  die  away  in  the  course  of  her  long  walk 
thither,  and  in  its  stead  arose  a  feeling  of  resent 
ment,  that  the  Herr  Pastor  should  have  thought 
it  necessary  to  bespeak  consideration  and  kind 
ness  from  her  (model  mother  as  she  had  always 
considered  herself)  in  behalf  of  her  only  daugh 
ter. 

"No  doubt,"  muttered  she  to  herself,  as  she 
toiled  up  the  hill,  that  led  to  her  cottage,  "  her 
ladyship  thinks  it's  very  fine  to  sit  with  folded 
hands,  while  I  am  blamed  for  her  white  cheeks 
and  tearful  eyes!  But  I'm  going  to  make  an 
end  of  it.  There's  as  good  fish  in  the  sea  as 
ever  were  caught,  and  though  the  Lord  knows 
the  net  that's  caught  her  is  tight  enough,  there's 
no  telling  what  may  happen,  and  I'm  not  going 
to  have  her  fretting  away  the  good  looks  that 
may  yet  get  her  a  rich  husband  !  " 

In  the  meantime,  where  was  Hilda  ?  Alone 
in  the  silent  kitchen  she  sat,  her  entire  attitude 
indicative  of  utter  despondency.  The  tall  clock 


I 
142  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

ticked  cheerfully  in  the  corner ;  the  great  fire 
place  was  gay  with  polished  tiles  of  varied 
colors ;  while  the  high  dresser,  groaning  with 
rows  of  shining  delf  and  -pewter,  and  the  floor, 
dazzling  in  its  snowy  whiteness,  gave  unmistak 
able  evidence  of  Frau  Waldemar's  skill  in  house 
wifery,  and  combined  to  lend  an  air  of  comfort 
to  the  homely  apartment.  But  no  portion  of 
their  brightness  was  reflected  in  the  face  or 
form  of  the  young  maiden:  her  spinning  wheel 
stood  idle  before  her ;  her  arms  drooped  list 
lessly  at  her  sides,  while  with  her  pale  face 
pressed  against  the  vine-wreathed  casement  she 
gazed  aimlessly  and  hopelessly  on  the  distant 
river.  The  rays  of  the  setting  sun  stole  tenderly 
in,  resting  lovingly  on  her  golden  tresses,  as 
it  were  with  a  touch  of  kindred ;  but  she 
heeded  them  not,  and  the  rosy  clouds  that 
tinged  the  horizon  might  have  been  black  as 
midnight  for  all  she  knew  or  cared.  Heedless 
of  clouds,  heedless  of  sunshine,  heedless  of 
time,  heedless  of  life  itself,  she  dreamed  on 
her  own  sad  dream,  'till  the  sharp  voice  of 
Frau  Waldemar  recalled  her  wandering  senses, 
as  she  came  in  at  the  open  door,  exclaiming  an 
grily  : 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  143 

"A  pretty  daughter  you. are!  Sitting  there 
as  idle  as  a  duchess  or  a  countess  at  least, 
and  not  a  bite  ready  for  me  after  my  long  tramp  ! 
The  fire  burnt  to  ashes !  Not  a  drop  of  water 
in  the  bucket!"  she  continued,  with  increasing 
wrath,  as  she  bustled  about;  "Hilda  Waldemar, 
what  do  you  mean1?  " 

'  I  know  it  is  too  bad,  mother  dear ! "  said  the 
girl,  rising  hastily  and  bending  over  the  fire  as 
if  to  mend  it,  while  the  ready  tears  dropped  upon 
the  dying  embers.  "But  please  forgive  me!  I 
forgot—" 

"Ay!  ay!  it  is  easy  to  say  you  forgot.  But 
you  are  always  forgetting.  Do  you  ever  stop 
to  think  what  would  become  of  you,  if  I  should 
take  it  into  my  head  to  do  the  same?  Get  up 
from  there  !  "  she  added,  taking  her  place  among 
the  ashes.  Those  everlasting  tears  are  doing 
the  fire  more  harm  than  your  clumsy  fingers 
can  do  good ;  and  if  you  will  condescend  for 
once  to  make  yourself  useful,  take  this  bucket 
and  go  to  the  spring  for  a  draught  of  fresh 
water." 

Hilda  obeyed  at  once,  and  the  energetic  frau 
soon  had  their  evening  meal  ready  ;  but  of  this  re 
past  the  poor  girl  could  not  do  more  than  make  a 


144  EBON  AND   OOLD. 

feint  of  partaking,  a  fact  which  did  not  escape  her 
watchful  mother,  though  she  said  nothing  till  the 
table  was  cleared  away  and  they  had  seated  them 
selves  for  the  evening.  Then,  looking  up  with  a 
frown,  she  said  sternly  : 

"  Hilda,  how  long  is  this  to  last  ? " 

"  A  long  time,  I  fear,  if  I  am  to  judge  by  past 
progress,"  said  Hilda,  with  an  attempt  at  a  joke, 
holding  up  the  stocking  on  which  she  was  knitting, 
as  if  she  supposed  it  to  be  the  subject  of  her 
mother's  query. 

"  You  know  very  well  I  am  not  talking  about 
that.  I  mean  this  eternal  fretting  and  moping. 
How  long,  I  ask  you  again,  is  it  going  to  last  ? ' ' 

"God  knows!  God  only  knows!  Until  the 
grass  is  green  on  my  grave.  For  oh !  he  will 
never  come  back  !  he  will  never  come  back !'"  and 
covering  her  face  with  her  hands,  the  young  girl 
sobbed  uncontrollably. 

"And  who  says  he  will  not  come  back?"  re 
torted  the  frau  fiercely.  "He  will  never  dare  to 
stay  away !  You  may  be  weak,  and  I  may  be 
weak ;  but  the  law  is  strong,  and  it  will  go  liard 
with  me  if  it  does  not  find  him  out." 

"  Mother,  no  more  of  that  !  "  exclaimed  her 
daughter,  with  a  stern  calmness  that  amazed  her. 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  145 

"He  never  said  he  loved  me,  and  though.  I  have 
hoped  against  hope,  I  know  now  that  he  never  did 
love  me,  and  I  will  die  before  I  will  be  forced  up 
on  him !" 

"  Don't  be  a  fool !  it  is  easy  to  talk  about  dying ; 
but  youth  is  strong,  and  life  is  sweet,  and  you  have 
never  counted  the  long  years  that  are  in  store  for 
you." 

"Ay,  but  I  have!  counted  them  slowly  and 
wearily,  as  the  hermit  tells  his  beads  ;  for  I  know 
that  I  must  pass  them  alone,  alone  !  " 

"  Alone  indeed  !  We  will  see  about  that  when 
the  lover  comes,  which  may  be  sooner  than  you 
think,"  added  the  frau  knowingly.  "The  Herr 
Pastor  has  already  written  once,  and  he  promised 
me  this  very  day  to  write  again  to-night,  and  we 
will  see  if  his  letters  won't  bring  him  !  " 

"  Mother !  "  said  Hilda,  in  a  voice  that  sounded 
like  a  wail ;  "  how  could  you  do  this  ?  and  after 
your  promise,  your  solemn  promise  !  O  God  !  am 
I  sunk  so  low?  Is  it  not  enough  that  he  does  not 
love  me  ?  must  he  also  learn  to  despise  me  ?  But, ' ' 
and  her  cheeks  flushed  and  her  eyes  glowed, 
"  even  if  he  comes  he  shall  not  see  me  !  I  will  hide 
somewhere,  anywhere,  so  that  he  can  never  find 

me!" 
7 


146  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

"Ungrateful  child  !  and  did  yon  think  I.  was 
going  to  let  you  sit  here,  fretting  your  good  looks 
away,  and  fitting  yourself  to  be  a  burden  on  me ' 

the  rest  of  my  days,  without  doing  aught  to  pro- 

• 

vent  it,  when  there  is  Fritz  Anschen,  the  rich 
brewer,  that  would  marry  me  and  make  a  lady  of 
me  to-morrow,  if  you  were  but  safely  out  of  the 
way  with  your  own  proper  husband." 

"Mother!"  fairly  shrieked  Hilda  in  her  an 
guish,  recoiling  as  if  an  adder  had  stung  her. 
"Fritz  Anschen!  and  the  flowers  scarce  yet  with 
ered  on  my  dear  father's  grave  !  Oh,  this  is  more 
than  I  can  bear  !  Unsay  those  cruel  words  !  Tell 
me  that  you  were  but  jesting,  mother !  "  But  the 
stern  face  turned  to  hers  was  unrelenting,  and  with 
a  low  moan  she  rushed  wildly  from  the  room,  bolt 
ing  her  chamber  door  as  if  she  would  shut  out 

somevliorrible  vision. 
\ 

How  long  Frau  Waldemar  sat  thus,  silently 
thinking,  she  knew  not ;  but  she  was  still  there 
when  the  door  slowly  opened,  and  Hilda,  with  a 
face  pale  as  a  corpse,  and  almost  as  rigid  and  cold, 
threw  herself  at  her  feet,  and  moaned  rather  than 
gasped,  "  Mother,  tell  me  it  is  not  true  ! " 

But  the  stern  frau  merely  shook  her  head,  and 
would  make  no  denial,  though  a  feeling  of  awe 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  147 

stole  over  her,  when  her  daughter,  rising,  said  sol 
emnly  : 

"Then  may  Grod  judge  between  you  and  me ! 
and  whatever  I  may  do  in  the  future,  remember 
you  drove  me  to  it !"  and  left  the  room  as  silently 
as  she  had  entered  it. 

For  a  moment  she  felt  inclined  to  follow  her ; 
but  checking  the  impulse  as  an  unworthy  weak 
ness,  she  proceeded  to  close  the  house  and  retire 
to  rest,  muttering  as  she  did  so  : 

"Poor,  silly,  stubborn  child  !  she  thinks  to 
move  me  with  her  airs  and  graces.  A  night' s  rest 
will  teach  her  better  ;  and  after  all,  such  an  offer 
as  Fritz  Anschen's  is  not  to  be  had  every  day." 

And  she  soon  fell  asleep ;  but  great  was  her 
consternation  in  the  morning  when  Hilda  appeared 
not  in  answer  to  her  usual  summons.  The  little 
white  bed  was  smooth  and  untroubled ;  the  neat 

» 

chamber  was  in  its  usual  beautiful  order  ;  but  it 
was  empty.  And  in  that  moment  Frau  Waldemar 
felt  that  she  had  lost  her  child,  and  lost  her  for 
ever. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

"Alas!  that  woman,  not  content 
With  her  peculiar  element 
Of  gentle  love,  should  ever  try 
The  meteor  spells  of  vanity  I 
Her  world  should  be  of  love  alone, 
Of  one  fond  heart,  and  only  one." 


L.  E.  L. 


ELL,  Jennie!  what's  on  the  tapis  now?" 
said  Lottie,  making  an  unceremonious  en 
tree  into  her  sister' s  boudoir,  one  bright  af 
ternoon  in  mid- winter.     "  As  Marcia  and  I  came  in 

from  Madam  just  now,  we  beheld  Eugene 

Castlemar'  s  fiery  bays  spiritedly  pawing  our  un 
fortunate  paving-stones,  while  Clifford  Aubrey's 
groom,  page,  Mercury,  or  whatever  you  choose  to 
call  him,  was  cooling  his  heels  in  the  vestibule. 
Pardon  my  curiosity  ;  but  '  when  Greek  meets 
Greek' — you  know  the  rest  of  the  adage." 

"  You  absurd  girl !  "    said  Jennie,  laughing  ; 
"there  is  nothing  the  matter  except  that  I  am  go- 


EBON  AND   GOLD. 

ing  to  drive  in  the  park  with  Mr.  Castlemar,  and," 
holding  up  a  tiny  rose-colored  missive,  "I  have 
just  declined  a  like  invitation  from  Mr.  Aubrey." 

"  That  is  too  bad  !  I  wish  it  was  vice  versa  ; 
for  between  you  and  me,  Jen,  I  think  you  are 
treating  Clifford  Aubrey  shamefully.  But  I  hope 
that  at  least  you  have  said  something  to  soften  the 
disappointment  ? " 

"  I  have  simply  told  him  that  his  note  came  too 
late,"  said  Jennie  haughtily. 

"Too  late  !  Poor  Clifford  !  It  seems  to  me  he 
is  never  in  time  for  anything  now.  His  invitation 
for  the  opera  found  you  already  engaged  for  half 
the  season  ;  it  was  too  late  for  his  promised  waltz 
vat  Mrs.  Ashton'  s ;  and  even  those  exquisite  camelias 
that  he  sent  last  night  came  so  late  that  it  was  im 
possible  to  comply  with  his  request  to  wear  them 
in  your  hair.  But  as  if  it  were  not  enough  that 
you  are  trifling  with  one  true  heart,  and  plunging 
a  score  of  other  luckless  wights  into  bliss  or  woe 
by  your  alternate  smiles  and  frowns,  you  have  led 
that  jealous  Cuban  on  till  he  is  positively  danger 
ous  ;  and  for  my  part,  I  would  rather  encounter  a 
•  cargo  of  nitro-glycerine  or  any  other  explosive 
compound." 

"Ha,   ha!"   laughed  Jennie  gayly,  arranging 


150  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

her  hat  before  the  glass.  "Don't  be  so.  tragic. 
Wait  till  your  own  time  comes,  ma  chere,  and  we 
will  see  if  you  are  not  as  anxious  for  '•strings  to 
your  bow'  as  the  rest  of  us.  But  why  do  you 
blame  me  ? "  added  she  innocently.  "  How  can  I 
help  it?" 

"Ah,  Jennie,  Jennie  !  In  the  words  of  the  im 
mortal  Susan  Mpper,  '  I  may  not  be  a  peacock, 
but  I  have  eyes ; '  and  I  hope  you  may  not  yet 
learn  to  your  sorrow  that  other  things  besides  Clif 
ford  Aubrey's  civilities  may  come  too  late.  Re 
member, 

• 

"  'While  we  send  for  the  napkin,  the  soup  gets  cold ; 
While  the  bonnet  is  trimming,  the  face  grows  old ; 
When  we've  matched  our  buttons,  the  pattern  is  sold ; 
And  everything  comes  too  late,  too  late  ! '  " 

"  No  more  an'  thou  lovest  me  !  "  cried  Jennie, 
clapping  her  hands  to  her  ears.  "I  will  buy  you 
an  owl,  and  you  shall  go  as  Minerva  to  our  first 
masquerade." 

"A  parrot  or  a  magpie  would  suit  her  better," 
said  Paul,  putting  his  head  in  at  the  door.  "  But 
Jennie,  if  you  have  no  mercy  on  Castlemar,  please 
have  some  on  our  sidewalk,  which  will  certainly 
be  demolished  if  those  horses  stand  there  much 
longer." 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  151 

"If  it  is,  charge  it  to  Lottie,"  said  the  wilful 
beauty,  tripping  lightly  down  to  the  parlor,  where 
her  cavalier  was  awaiting  her. 

His  face  glowed  as  he  heard  her  step  on  the 
stairs,  and  his  dark  eyes  fairly  burned  with  the 
passionate  love  that  thrilled  his  whole  being,  as 
he  unconsciously  murmured  to  himself : 


"  She  is  coining,  my  own,  my  sweet  1 

Were  it  ever  so  airy  a  tread, 
My  heart  would  hear  her  and  beat, 

Were  it  earth  in  an  earthy  bed ; 
My  dust  would  hear  her  and  beat, 

Had  I  lain  for  a  century  dead, — 
Would  start  and  tremble  under  her  feet, 

And  blossom  in  purple  and  red." 


"  La  belle  des  belles!"  said  he,  rising  as  she 
entered. 

1  'None  of  that,  Mr.  Castlemar,"  returned  she  ; 
"remember  my  rules :  no  flattery !  " 

"  And  when  was  the  truth  called  flattery  ? "  ex 
claimed  he  passionately.  "The  garnered  gems 
of  all  the  poets  would  still  leave  us  poor  in  words 
to  picture  you." 

"That  may  be;  pen-portraits  were  always  my 
abomination.  But  as  we  do  not  propose  to  devote 
ourselves  to  the  artistic  or  poetic  on  this  occasion, 


152  EBON  AND   0  OLD. 

let  us  be  off  for  our  drive  while  we  can  have  the 
benefit  of  the  sunshine." 

"  The  sun  can  never  set  in  your  presence,"  said 
her  adorer ;  but  Jennie  interrupted  him  with : 

"  O  Mr.  Castlemar  !  I  fear  you  are  incorrigi 
ble  ;  but  you  must  really  proclaim  a  truce  to  such 
sentiments,  or  I  will  be  obliged  to  reconsider  my 
acceptance,  and  forego  the  drive." 

"I  can  safely  promise  to  sin  no  more,  if  such  be 
the  penalty,"  rejoined  he  ;  and  giving  the  rein  to 
his  horses,  he  made  himself  so  agreeable  as  they 
flew  along,  that  his  star  rose  high  in  the  ascend 
ency,  till  a  bow  from  Clifford  Aubrey  and  another 
from  Kenneth  Murray  as  he  passed  with  his  lovely 
bays  and  the  stylish  Miss  Lawrence  (a  rival  belle 
and  beauty)  turned  Jennie's  thoughts  in  another 
channel,  and  she  came  home  so  tired  and  so  cold 
that  even  Nita  saw  it  and  asked  shrewdly  : 

"What's  the  matter,  sister  Jennie?  Did  you 
meet  anybody  that  was  nicer  and  prettier  than 
you?" 

But  every  trace  of  this  liad  vanished  later  in 
the  evening,  when  she  entered  the  drawing-room, 
where  the  family  had  already  assembled,  looking 
so  lovely  that  there  was  pride  as  well  as  pleasure 
in  the  tone  in  which  her  father  exclaimed  : 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  153 

"At  home  this  evening,  my  daughter?  This 
is  refreshing.  The  claims  of  society  have  inter 
fered  sadly  with  our  claims  of  late." 

"  Very  little  to  your  loss,"  said  Jennie  lightly, 
seating  herself  on  a  low  stool  at  his  feet ;  "but  in 
fact,  though  I  find  it  all  charming, — the  beaux,  the 
opera,  the  driving,  and  the  dancing,  and  every 
thing, — I  am  not  sorry  for  a  little  breathing- 
spell." 

"  Yes,  these  little  pauses  in  the  journey  of  life 
are  refreshing  alike  to  body  and  soul.  But,  by 
the  way>  I  hope  that  contact  with  the  world  has 
left  your  freshness  and  bloom  of  spirit  as  unim 
paired  as  these  glowing  cheeks  ?  "• 

"Don't  be  afraid  of  that,  papa,"  said  Jennie, 
though  she  colored  slightly  as  she  detected  a 
shade  of  anxiety  in  the  kind  eyes  bent  so  lov 
ingly  upon  her.  "When  all  this  rush  and  glitter 
is  over.  I  shall  be  glad  to  go  back  to  Glen  Eden, 
and  you  will  find  me  quite  the  same,  if  not  more 
truly  your  own  Jennie  than  ever." 

"You  at  home?"  said  Paul,  entering  at  that 
moment.  "Let  me  congratulate  the  family  circle 
on  the  presence  of  the  belle  of  the  season,  though 
an  unfortunate  engagement  prevents  me  from 

sharing  in  the  honor.     But,  my  fair  lady,  I  thought 

7* 


,  154  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

you  were  going  to  the  opera  to-night  with  Sid 
Howard;  at  least,  I  heard  you  make  some  such 
agreement,  with  a  smile  so  sweet  that  it  left  me 
under  the  impression  that  you  were  not  only  glad 
to  accept,  but  duly  thankful  for  the  invitation." 

"Nonsense,  Paul!"  returned  Jennie.  "But  if 
I  did,  I  have  claimed  a  woman' s  privilege,  and 
changed  my  mind." 

"Cool!  I'm  glad  I'm  only  your  brother.  But 
tell  me,  Jen,  how  is  it  that  you  manage  to  have  so 
many  fellows  dying  for  you,  and  to  make  each 
one  think  that  beyond  a  doubt  he  is  the  prime 
favorite  ? " 

"Manage!"  said  Jennie,  a  little  indignantly. 
"There  is  no  management  about  it.  I  can't  help 
it  if  they  choose  to  think  themselves  in  love  with 
me,  and  I  really  like  them  all  so  much  that  the 
last  seems  the  best." 

"  Take  care,  my  daughter !  A  woman  loses  the 
glory  of  womanhood  when  she  so  far  uncrowns 
herself  as  to  descend  to  the  arts  of  a  coquette." 

Paul  took  up  his  hat  to  depart ;  and  Jennie  was 
beginning  to  think  that,  in  Dick's  expressive 
phraseology,  she  was  "  in  for  it"  when  the  door 
opened,  and  the  footman  announced  "Mr  Cas- 
tlemar  and  Mr.  Murray." 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  155 

"Take  this  seat  by  me,  Kenneth,"  said  Mr. 
Elraore,  after  the  greetings  had  been  exchanged ; 
"  I  would  like  to  have  a  few  words  with  you." 

And  the  Cuban  proceeded  to  monopolize  Jennie, 
happily  unconscious  of  the  indignation  of  Lottie, 
who,  with  her  mother  and  Marcia,  was  seated  at 
a  table  in  a  distant  part  of  the  room,  engaged  in 
looking  over  a  book  of  views  and  sketches  which, 
in  the  superabundance  of  Paul's  trophies  of 
travel,  had  not  been  discovered  until  to-day.  De 
voted  partisan  of  Clifford  Aubrey  that  she  was, 
she  could  endure  no  infringement  on  what  she 
considered  his  rights;  but  on  this  occasion  she 
merely  gave  vent  to  her  impatience  by  a  sly 
shake  of  the  fist,  unperceived  by  any  one  but 
Marcia,  who  could  not  restrain  a  smile  at  this 
characteristic  ebullition  on  the  part  of  her  impul 
sive  cousin.  At  last  Mrs.  Elmore  said:  • 

"  Come,  Kenneth,  Mr.  Elmore  has  engrossed  you 
long  enough.  Devote  yourself  to  us  for  a  while, 
and  add  the  charm  of  your  reminiscences  to  this 
already  attractive  volume." 

"May  I  come  too  ? "  asked  Mr.  Elmore  ;  "I  am 
still  young  enough  to  retain  my  taste  for  travellers' 
wonders." 

"  The  more,  the  merrier,"  replied  his  wife ;  and 


156  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

they  formed  quite  an  animated  little  group,  till  they 
were  interrupted  by  fresh  arrivals,  in  the  persons 
of  Clifford  Aubrey  and  Mr.  MacKensie,  after 
which  the  conversation  became  general.  For  al 
though  Marcia  and  Lottie  were  not  yet  emanci 
pated  from  the  thraldom  of  the  school-room,  Mrs. 
Elmore  did  not  favor  utter  seclusion,  but  consid 
ered  it  improving  for  them  to  be  present  and  take 
part  on  such  occasions. 

Mr.  MacKensie  was  a  young  man  about  thirty 
years  of  age,  and  not  only,  as  his  name  would  indi 
cate,  a  native  of  the  land  of  the  heather,  but  a 
bond  fide  Scotch  laird,  although  he  had  the  good 
taste  and  judgment  to  drop  the  title  while  sojourn 
ing  in  a  republican  land.  Although  not  regularly 
handsome,  he  had  an  undeniably  fine  face,  and 
was  possessed  of  a  strong  native  intellect  and  a 
superior  culture,  which  rendered  him  a  most  de 
lightful  companion.  In  fact,  he  and  the  young 
Cuban  were  the  lions  of  the  season,  and  many 
envied  the  Elmores  the  privilege  of  receiving  on 
such  familiar  terms  such  distinguished  guests. 
To  the  Cuban,  as  we  have  seen,  Jennie  proved  a 
sufficient  and  all-powerful  attraction  ;  but  to  the 
Scotchman,  although,  like  the  rest  of  mankind,  he 
yielded  tribute  at  the  shrine  of  the  beauty,  it  was 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  157 

more  Aunt  Lucia' s  gentle  influence,  and  the  sweet, 
homelike  feeling  that  pervaded  everybody  and 
everything  that  came  in  contact  with  her.  Then, 
too,  there  was  a  higher  mental  and  moral  tone 
about  this  family  circle  than  most  of  those  to 
which  he  had  been  presented,  for  superior  birth 
and  fortune  too  often  seemed  to  serve  as  incen 
tives,  or,  at  best,  excuses  for  superior  frivolity  and 
extravagance. 

Jennie,  intent  on  making  herself  agreeable, 
divided  her  smiles  quite  equally  among  all  the 
gentlemen,  though  Lottie  noticed  with  delight  that 
her  favorite  at  last  attained  the  vantage-ground, 
nor  did  he  afterwards  relinquish  it. 

"Your  cousin  certainly  presents  a  rare  combi 
nation  of  beauty  and  intellect,"  said  Mr.  MacKen- 
sie,  addressing  himself  to  Marcia. 

"Indeed  she  does.  The  most  difficult  lessons 
were  always  mere  pastime  to  her,  and  I  have  never 
seen  anyone  so  wondrously  beautiful,"  said  Mar 
cia  with  enthusiasm,  quite  unconscious  how  charm 
ing  her  ingenuous  admiration  made  her  appear  to 
her  listener. 

"  If  I  needed  such  an  assurance,  your  praises 
would  convince  me  that  she  is  deserving  of  the 
adulation  so  universally  poured  out  before  her. 


158  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

But  it  is  a  fearful  ordeal,  and  one  at  which  any 
woman  might  well  shrink  and  tremble." 

"And  yet  it  is  so  sweet  to  be  appreciated,"  said 
Marcia  with  a  sigh  and  a  passing  memory  of  her 
own  unloved,  neglected  childhood. 

"  .Very  true  ;  but  my  idea  of  woman  is  so  lofty, 
so  exalted  ;  to  me  she  is  such  a  holy  of  holies,  that 
I  cannot  bear  to  see  her  heart  made  a  common 
thoroughfare.  I  would  have  it  a  sacred  shrine,  of 
which  but  one  alone  should  possess  the  magic 
1  sesame.'  ' 

"  Or,"  continued  Marcia,  catching  his  spirit,  "a 
sealed  fountain,  which  only  the  prophet's  rod 
should  make  to  gush  with  living  waters." 

' '  May  I  ask  what  .theme  is  inspiring  you  and 
Mr.  MacKensie  with  such  poetic  similes?"  said 
Kenneth,  who  was  sitting  near  them.  "I  have 
been  listening  most  intently,  at  the  risk  of  verify 
ing  a  certain  pithy  old  adage,  and  what  I  have 
heard  has  been  like  Tantalus'  cup :  only  enough 
to  make  me  want  to  hear  more." 

"  The  theme  is  one  which  perhaps  you  will  call 
trite — women's  hearts,"  replied  Marcia. 

"  Women's  hearts  as  they  should  be,  or  as  they 
too  frequently  are  ?"  questioned  Kenneth.  "If 
the  latter,  I  fear  your  prophet  would  have  to  be  a 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  159 

Midas,  and  his  divining-rod  the  crucible  of  an  al 
chemist.     Many  a  true  lover  might  exclaim  with 
'  the  lover  of  Locksley  Hall : 

"  *  What  is  that  which  I  should  turn  to,  lighting  upon  days  like 

these  ? 
Every  door  is  barfed  with  gold,  and  opens  but  to  golden  keys.'  " 

"That  is  a  more  cynical  sentiment  than  I  like  to 
hear  from  your  lips,  Kenneth,"  said  Aunt  Lucia. 
"  But  when  I  consider  the  marriages  of  the  present 
day,  I  cannot  wonder  at  it.  Love  seems  to  be 
entirely  out  of  the  question ;  or  if  not  professedly 
ignored,  the  men  and  maidens  find  it  wonderfully 
convenient  to  place  their  affections  on  the  highest 
bidder." 

"  What  a  severe  speech  to  come  from  my  gentle 
mamma,"  exclaimed  Lottie.  "When  my  time 
comes  I  shall  certainly  look  out  for  some  poverty- 
stricken  wight,  that  I  may  feel  assured  that  I  do 
not  come  under  the  ban  of  her  displeasure." 

"The  daughter  of  such  a  mother  need  scarcely 
resort  to  such  extreme  measures,"  said  Mr.  Mac- 
Kensie,  "though  it  is  true  that  it  is  the  tendency 
of  the  age  to  rob  marriage  of  all  solemnity." 

"You  speak  feelingly  on  the  subject,"  saidMar- 
cia  ;  "  but  is  not  your  native  land  noted  for  the 
ease  and  informality  with  which  the  sacred  tie  may 


160  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

be  contracted  within  its  limits  ?    Your  Aberdeen 
has  an  actually  historic  renown." 

"That  is  so  ;  but  my  native  land  does  not  stand' 
alone  in  this  respect.  In  some  of  your  own  States, 
and  also  in  some  parts  of  Germany,  all  that  is  nec 
essary  to  constitute  a  legal  marriage,  is  for  the 
parties  to  declare  their  sentiments  in  the  presence 
of  witnesses,  and  thus  the  idle  sport  of  an  hour  has 
sometimes  become  the  misery  of  a  lifetime." 

"  I  never  could  tolerate  playing  at  marriage," 
said  Aunt  Lucia,  "whether in  tableaux,  charades, 
or — but  Kenneth  !  what  is  the  matter  ?  you  are  as 
pale  as  a  ghost." 

"Nothing.  It  will  soon  pass,"  said  Kenneth 
confusedly.  "I  have  been  suffering  with  the 
headache  all  day." 

"  It  must  be  very  severe  in  its  paroxysms,"  said 
Lottie,  "for  it  blanched  your  cheek  as  suddenly 
as  some  ghostly  memory.  There,  you  look  better 
now,"  as  the  color  mounted  into  his  face  at  her 
words,  "and  I  am  going  to  have  some  music.  I 
want  Marcia  to  show  Mr.  MacKensie  how  much 
pathos  a  heartless  American  girl  can  put  into 
one  of  his  Scotch  ballads." 

Marcia  gave  her  a  reproachful  glance,  and  would 
have  retreated ;  but  for  once  Aunt  Lucia  would 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  1(51 

not  excuse  her,  though,  in  consideration  of  her  dif 
fidence,  she  had  not  hitherto  required  her  to  sing 
before  visitors,  and  she  was  led  in  triumph  to  the 
piano.  At  first  her  voice  faltered  ;  but  with  the 
first  note  she  gained  confidence,  and  the  rich,  mel 
low  tones  gushed  forth  with  an  exquisite  tender 
ness,  that  sank  into  the  very  hearts  of  her  listeners. 
Every  one  was  charmed,  and  Mr.  Mackensie  was 
absolutely  enraptured.  Ballad  followed  ballad., 
and  when,  elated  at  her  success,  Lottie  artfully 
proposed  "Robert,"  Kenneth's  favorite,  Marcia 
showed  herself  quite  as  much  at  home  in  opera, 
*and  executed  that  gem  of  Meyerbeer  with  a  power 
and  finish  that  carried  her  audience  by  storm. 

"  I  did  not  know  we  had  such  a  prima  donna 
among  us,"  said  her  uncle,  drawing  her  fondly  to 
his  side,  as  the  door  at  last  closed  on  their  visitors, 
and — 

"The  canny  Scot  has  struck  his  colors,"  said 
Lottie,  as  she  settled  h erself  to  sleep.  "But  Marcia, 
let  me  beg  of  you  not  to  dream  of  the  blue  bells 
of  Scotland.  It  would  spoil  a  pet  scheme  of 
mine." 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

"  Hear  the  sledges  with  the  bells, 

Silver  bells, 
What  a  world  of  merriment  their  melody  foretells ! " 


Dick ! "  exclaimed  Mta,  clapping  her 
hands  with  delight,  as  she  looked  -out  of 
^Q  ]|-kraiy  -window  one  bright,  frosty 
morning.  "  The  ground  is  all  covered  with  snow, 
and  there  goes  such  a  lovely  sleigh,  for  all  the 
world  like  those  dear,  pretty,  swans  out  at  the 
park.  I  wonder  if  cousin  Kenneth  will  remem 
ber !" 

"  Of  course !  "  said  Dick  confidently  ;  "or  if  he 
don't,  Mr.  Mackensie  will.  But  I  say,  Mta,  what 
a  pity  it  is  that  you  aint  a  boy ;  we  could  have 
such  fine  fun  coasting." 

"  It  is  a  pity  ! "  said  Mta,  so  ruefully,  that  Mar- 
cia,  who  was  seated  at  a  table  near  them,  putting 
the  finishing-strokes  to  a  sketch  she  was  preparing 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  163 

for  her  drawing-master,  could  not  help  smiling  as 
she  said  : 

"  Don't  be  so  doleful  about  it,  pet ;  I'm  sure  girls 
have  a  nice  time  too." 

"  But  not  like  the  boys,"  said  Nita.  "  And  then 
I  hate  girls';  they  are  so  mean.  They  always  want 
to  know  how  many  silk  dresses  you've  got,  and 
what  kind  of  a  house  you  live  in,  and  whether 
your  father  keeps  a  carriage  ;  and  with  boys  it 
don't  make  a  bit  of  difference,  so  you  don't  sneak, 
or  tell  tales,  or  take  a  dare  !  " 

"What  an  array  of  virtues!"  said  Marcia, 
laughing.  "  But  won't  it  be  nice  when  you  are 
grown  like  Jennie  ?  she  has  (as  you  and  Dick 
would  say)  lots  of  fun."  . 

"Oh  yes  ;  but  even  she  is  always  fussing  about 
something.  I'd  a  heap  rather  be  cousin  Kenneth." 

"  Or  Mr.  Mackensie,"  put  in  Dick. 

"Pshaw,  Dick!  ever  since  you've  known  Mr. 
Mackensie,  and  been  reading  about  Bruce  and 
Wallace,  and  all  that,  you  think  nobody' s  anything 
that  wasn't  born  in  Scotland.  I  asked  mamma 
about  it,  and  she  says  those  men  all  died  years  ago, 
and  I  don't  believe  the  Scotch  nowadays  are  a  bit 
better  than  other  people.  At  any  rate,  I  think 
there's  nobody  like  cousin  Kenneth,  and  I  say  it 


164:  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

again.  I'd  rather  be  him  than  anybody  else  in 
the  world.  Wouldn't  you,  cousin  Marcia  ?" 

"  That  is  rather  a  sweeping  interrogation.  But 
to  tell  the  truth,  I  think  I  would  a  little  rather  be 
myself  than  any  one  else." 

"That  is  right ! "  said  Dick  warmly.  "I'm  sure 
you  couldn't  be  anything  better.  I  heard  Mr. 
Mackensie  telling  papa,  the  other  day,  that  you 
were  the  most  sensible  and  best  reformed  young 
girl  of  your  age,  he  ever  met." 

"  0  Dick  !  Dick  !  don't  murder  the  king's  Eng 
lish,"  said  Marcia,  "and  above  all,  don't  think 
that  the  reason  I  would  rather  be  myself  is  because 
I  think  I  am  better  than  any  one  else.  Far  from 
it !  I  only  think  that  God  has  made  us  just  what 
it  is  best  and  happiest  for  us  to  be,  and  that  it 
seems  like  thinking  we  know  more  than  He  does, 
to  wish  we  were  different." 

"  Yes  !  "  said  JSTita,  "and  no  doubt  he  made  me 
a  girl,  so  that  I  can  marry  cousin  Kenneth  when 
I'm  big  enough.  He  said  the  other  day  he  would 
wait  for  me." 

"  That  would  be  jolly!  "  said  Dick  merrily;  "and 
cousin  Marcia  shall  marry  Mr.  Mackensie,  and — " 

"  Not  so  fast,  Dick,"  began  Marcia;  but  at  this 
moment  the  children  were  drawn  to  the  window 


EBON  AND   QOLD.  1C5 

by  the  tinkling  of  bells,  and  exclaiming,  "Here 
they  are,  here  they  are  !  Oh  how  nice  !  "  they 
rushed  out  of  the  room,  almost  beside  themselves 
with  delight. 

The  secret  of  their  rapture  was  this :  Some 
weeks  before,  Kenneth  and  Mr.  Mackensie  had 
promised  them  a  sleigh-ride,  the  very  first  snow  ; 
also  inducing  Aunt  Lucia  to  join  the  party,  with 
Marcia,  Lottie,  and  Christabel  Huntington,  who 
was  present  on  the  occasion.  Since  that  time,  the 
weather  had  been  the  absorbing  topic  with  the 
little  ones,  and  this  morning's  snow-flakes  had 
been  hailed  with  a  glee  proportionate  to  their  an 
ticipation.  And  a  merry  party  they  made  !  Aunt 
Lucia  with  Marcia  and  Nita  disposing  themselves 
under  Kenneth's  guardianship,  while  Christabel, 
Lottie,  and  Dick  claimed  that  of  Mr.  Mackensie. 
•  To  Marcia  the  sleigh-ride  was  even  more  of  a  nov 
elty  than  to  the  children,  for  in  the  sunny  land  of 
her  birth  such  wintry  pleasures  were  unknown, 
and  she  gave  herself  up  to  the  exhilaration  of  the 
moment,  and  became  so  sparkling  and  animated, 
that  to  Kenneth,  at  least,  she  displayed  an  entirely 
new  phase  of  character.  So  absorbed  was  he  in 
contemplating  her  and  listening  to  her  lively  sal 
lies,  that  his  little  fiancee  in  prospective  would 


166  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

undoubtedly  have  given  up  to  a  violent  attack  of 
the  sulks,  if  there  had  not  been  so  much  in  the  gay 
scene  around  them  to  interest  and  divert  her. 

"  Look -there,  mamma,"  said  she,  as  a  huge  om 
nibus  on  runners  passed  swiftly  by,  with  its  cargo 
of  smiling  faces — and,  "  How  funny  !  "  as  she  be 
held  a  hastily  improvised  jumper,  of  grotesque 
form  and  dimensions,  ambitiously  striving  to  hold 
its  own  in  the  general  melee  and,  "  O  mamma ! 
just  see  that  beautiful  sea-shell,  and  that  lovely 
white  robe  !  It  looks  like  foam  !  And  if  there 
ain't  sister  Jennie  in  it  with  Mr.  Aubrey.  I  won 
der  if  she  sees  us,  Yes!  she's  laughing  at  us." 
And  thus  the  happy  child  prattled  on,  till  her 
mother  said  laughingly  : 

"Nita,  dear!  your  tongue  reminds  me  of  that 
one  Dick  tells1  about,  which  was  '  hung  in  the 
middle.' " 

Nor  was  it  for  the  children  alone  that  this  day 
was  henceforth  to  be  marked  with  a  white  pebble. 
The  snow,  pure  and  spotless,  glistening  in  the  sun 
shine,  gave  no  hint  of  the  corruption  and  filth  which 
it  hid ;  nor  of  the  cold  bleak  attics  into  which  it  had 
drifted,  making  them  colder  and  bleaker  still ;  nor 
of  the  houseless  poor,  who  had  shivered  beneath 
its  icy  touch.  And  the  careless  throng  enjoyed  it, 


EBON  AND   GOLD. 

unquestioning,  and  none  more  thoroughly  than  our 
little  party.  The  park  was  so  charming  in  its  win 
try  vesture,  that  Marcia  was  enchanted,  and  was 
silent  all  the  way  home,  from  very  intensity  of 
feeling ;  but  her  simple 

"Thank  you,  Mr.  Murray  ;  I  am  indebted  to 
you  for  the  happiest  morning  of  my  life,"  seemed 
to  Kenneth  more  eloquent  than  the  most  elaborate 
acknowledgment ;  and  fair  were  the  visions  that 
arose  before  him  as  he  wended  his  way  to  his 
rooms  in  the  hotel,  which  he  had  made  his  head 
quarters  for  the  winter.  The  glowing  anthracite 
in  the  grate,  and  the  tempting  sofa  drawn  up  be 
side  it,  invited  him  to  reverie  ;  and  taking  a  cigar, 
he  indulged  in  it,  till  the  future  floated  before  him 
on  the  clouds  of  smoke,  in  shapes  as  protean  and 
as  alluring  as  ever  flowed  from  the  pen  of  Ike 
Marvel.  So  absorbed  did  he  become,  that  the 
waiter  knocked  twice  before  he  received  a  sum 
mons  to  enter,  and  even  then  his  usually  welcome 
announcement,  "Letters,  sir !  "  elicited  but  an  un 
gracious  nod  in  acknowledgment,  as  he  laid  them 
on  the  table  and  withdrew.  The  cigar  was  reduced 
to  ashes  ;  the  fire  burned  low  in  the  grate,  and  the 
early  winter  twilight  began  to  fill  the  room -with 
shadows,  and  still  our  dreamer  mused  on,  till  at 


168  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

last,    suddenly  remembering  an    engagement    to 
dinner,  he  started  up,  exclaiming  aloud : 

"If  even  the  dream  is  so  sweet,  what  would 
not  the  reality  be  ?  Dare  I  dwell  upon  it,  or  can 
it  be,  as  the  cynics  say,  that  in  life  our  dearest 
plans,  our  fondest  hopes,  our  brightest  anticipa 
tions  are  doomed,  like  this  glorious  Havana,  to 
end  in  smoke.  Heigho !  I  must  get  out  of  this 
cloudland." 

And  as  a  first  step  in  his  descent  to  the  practi 
cal,  he  took  up  a  match  to  light  the  gas.  As  he 
did  so,  the  light  fell  on  the  letters,  which  were 
still  lying  unheeded  where  the  servant  had  placed 
them.  He  picked  them  up  carelessly,  little  think 
ing,  as  he  did  so,  that  he  was  taking  up  a  burden 
which  for  many  and  many  a  weary  year  he  should 
strive  vainly  to  lay  down ;  a  stone  of  Sisyphus, 
with  which  he  must  toil  painfully  up  life's  steep 
hill,  nor  be  released  from  it  until  he  neared  the 
top.  The  first  two  or  three  letters  were  unimpor 
tant  enough,  and  he  glanced  hastily  at  them  ;  but 
the  fourth,  which  was  addressed  in  a  stiff,  foreign 
hand,  and  literally  covered  with  postmarks,  had 
evidently  travelled  far  and  wide  to  reach  him ; 
and  he  looked  at  it,  as  he  broke  the  seal,  with 
some  wonderment  and  curiosity.  But  as  he  per- 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  169 

used  its  contents,  his  cheeks  blanched  to  a  marble 
pallor  ;  a  stony  look  of  despair  stole  into  his 
eyes  ;  a  cold,  gray  shadow  settled  upon  his  sunny 
face,  and  covering  it  with  his  hands,  he  groaned 
aloud  ;  then  starting  up,  he  paced  the  floor  in  the 
extremity  of  his  anguish. 

"O  my  God!"  he  exclaimed,  "can  this  be 
true  ?  Oh  no !  it  is  too  dreadful,  it  must  be 'some 
hideous  nightmare !  Is  there  no  hope — no  escape 
— no  alternative — nothing  left  for  me  but  to  sit 
down  and  bear  it !  me  so  young,  with  so  many 
years  of  life  before  me  ? " 

"  Yes,"  whispered  the  tempter,  always  at  hand 
to  take  advantage  of  an  unguarded  moment  ; 
"  the  ocean  rolls  between  you  and  your  troubles. 
In  this  country,  even  the  law  will  be  on  your 
side.  Ignore  your  cruel  fate.  Keep  your  own 
counsel,  and  no  one  need  ever  be  the  wiser." 

For  a  time  he  listened,  and  the  expression  of 
his  face  softened  ;  the  temptation  was  great ;  but 
his  better  nature  triumphed,  and  putting  it  reso 
lutely  from  him,  he  said  firmly,  though  in  a  voice 
broken  with  anguish : 

"  No,  no,  I  cannot !  I  may  not  be  legally,  but 
at  least  I  am  honorably,  bound,  and  I  will  not.be 

the  first  Murray  to  prove  false  to  our  glorious 
8 


170  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

motto,  'Principia,  non  homines.'  But  O  my 
love !  my  lost  love,  whom  I  had  hoped  to  win. 
Marcia  !  Marcia ! "  and  he  was  again  overcome. 

But  as  the  night  wore  on,  his  agitation  was 
sufficiently  calmed  for  him-  to  determine  on  a 
course  of  action.  It  was  clear  that  he  must  go 
to  Europe,  and  that  without  delay.  So  finding,  on 
reference  to  the  papers,  a  steamer  for  Bremen  ad 
vertised  for  the  next  day,  he  at  once  made  ar 
rangements  for  immediate  departure.  So  the 
morning  that  had  dawned  so  "brightly,  and  worn 
such  roseate  colors,  vanished  in  a  night  of  gloom 
and  sorrow  ;  and  the  future,  which  fancy  had  pic 
tured  so  fair,  resolved  itself  into  a  long,  weary 
vista  of  exile  and  wandering. 


CHAPTER  XIY. 

"  'Tis  thus  with  our  life  while  it  passes  along, 
Like  a  vessel  at  sea  amid  sunshine  and  song  1 
Gayly  we  glide  in  the  gaze  of  the  world, 
With  streamers  afloat  and  with  canvas  unfurled ; 
All  gladness  and  glory  to  wandering  eyes — 
Yet  chartered  by  sorrow  and  freighted  with  sighs, 
-Fading  and  false  is  the  aspect  it  wears, 
As  the  smiles  we  put  on — just  to  cover  our  tears ; 
And  the  withering  thoughts  which  the  world  cannot  know, 
Like  heart-broken  exiles  lie  burning  below  ; 
.And  the  vessel  drives  on  to  that  desolate  shore 
Where  the  dreams  of  our  childhood  are  vanished  and  o'er." 

HEHVEY. 

P* 

•  AYE  any  of  yon  seen  Kenneth  to-day  3  " 

asked  Paul,  as  he  entered  the  dining-room 
the  next  evening,  where  the  family  where 
already  assembled  at  dinner. 

"  No,"  replied  Annt  Lucia ;  "  and  it  is  strange, 
too,  for  he  had  promised  to  take  Marcia  and  Lot 
tie  to  the  Art  Gallery," 

"And  Tom  Blanton  called  at  the  office  to-day 
to  inquire  for  him,  saying  that  he  had  engaged  to 


172  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

dine  with,  him  last  night,  "but  failed  to  pnt  in  an 
appearance  ;,  and  when  he  went  to  his  rooms  he 
found  them  locked.  I  intended  going  there  my 
self  this  afternoon,  but  Judge  Davis  found  some 
writing  for  me  to  do;  and  as  one  can't  "be  a  fa 
mous  lawyer  without  working  for  it,  I  went  at  it 
with  a  will,  and  have  but  just  finished." 

"  I  hope  that  nothing  is  the  matter,"  said  Aunt 
Lucia  anxiously ;  while  Marcia  looked  up 
eagerly,  dropping  her  eyes  again  in  confusion  as 
they,  met  those  of  her  cousin,  who  continued 
carelessly : 

"Oh,  there  is  no  cause  for  uneasiness.  I  will 
unearth  the  fellow  after  dinner.  But  Lottie, 
whom  do  you  think  I  met  just  now  ?  A  very  par 
ticular  friend  of  yours." 

"For  the  life  of  me,  I  cannot  tell,"  said  Lottie. 
"  As  the  old  woman  said,  '  I  am  not  much  at  co 
nundrums.'  ' 

"Well,  then,  it  was  no  other  than  Fred  Hunt- 
ington,  just  arrived  and  vastly  improved  by  his 
Californian  trip.  He  looks  at  least  six  inches 
taller,  is  as  brown  as  a  berry,  and  can  boast  as 
fine  a  crop  of  whiskers  as. Paul  Elmore,  Esq.," 
stroking  his  own  luxuriant  beard  complacently. 

"Oh,  I  am  so  glad — "  began  Lottie  eagerly; 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  173 

then  blushing  and  checking  herself,  she  added — 
"for  dear  Christabel." 

"Don't  separate  your  sentences  by  such  long 
pauses,  sister  mine,"  said  Paul  mischievously  ; 
"  they  are  calculated  to  throw  a  doubt  on  your 
disinterestedness.  I  should  certainly  suppose 
that  your  rejoicing  was  for  yourself,  and  that 
1  dear  Christabel'  was  an  after- thought." 

"Don't  be  provoking,  Paul !  I  can't  see  what 
has  led  you  to  imagine  that  I  have  any  especial 
claim  on  Mr.  Huntington." 

"  Only  some  childish  reminiscences,  which  doubt 
less  have  deceived  me  ;  the  mirage  of  distance,  I 
suppose,"  continued  Paul.  "But  what  is  it, 
James?"  as  a  servant,  entering  at  that  moment, 
'handed  him  a  note. 

"A  note  for  you,  sir.  Mr.  Murray's  man 
brought  it,  and  he  is  waiting  below." 

"A  note  from  Ken!"  said  he  gayly,  as  he 
opened  it.  "  The  plot  thickens— this  grows  inter 
esting."  But  his  face  became  grave  as  he  read, 
and  more  than  one  exclamation  of  astonishment 
and  concern  burst  from  his  lips.  It  ran  thus : 

"  DEAR  PAUL  : — When  this  reaches  you,  I  shall 
be  already  on  the  broad  ocean ;  for  having  re- 


174  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

ceived  intelligence  that  renders  it  imperative  for 
me  to  return  at  once  to  Europe,  I  have  availed 
myself  of  the  first  steamer.  I  would  not  have 
gone  without  seeing  you,  but  I  thought  it  "best  to 
avoid  explanations,  which  I  am  not  at  present 
prepared  to  make.  This  will  be  handed  you  by 
my  groom,  who  will  await  your  orders,  as  I  be 
queath  to  you,  as  my  parting  gift,  the  bays,  for  I 
know  not  when  I  will  return.  Please  make  my 
adieux  to  all  the  loved  ones  of  your  home-circle, 
and  ask  them  to  hold  me  sometimes  in  kindly  re 
membrance  ;  for  I  can  assure  you  that  the  thought 
of  them,  and  the  memory  of  your  friendship,  will 
ever  be  the  one  green  spot  in  the  life  of 

"KENNETH  THE  WANDEEEE." 

A  thunderbolt  in  a  cloudless  sky  could  not  have 
been  more  startling  than  were  the  contents  of  this 
note  to  the  assembled  family  ;  and  one  and  all 
hazarded  the  wildest  conjectures  as  to  the  cause 
of  this  sudden  departure.  When  Christabel  and 
her  brother  came  in,  later  in  the  evening,  they 
shared  in  the  general  agitation ;  so  that  Fred 
seemed  to  forgot  that  any  especial  attention  was 
due  to  him  as  a  newly  returned  absentee,  and  quite 
contentedly  remained  a  secondary  consideration. 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  175 

Marcia  alone  spoke  not  a  word  ;  but  her  color 
came  and  went  with  every  "breath,  and  a  dense 
though  impalpable  shadow  seemed  slowly  blot 
ting  all  the  brightness  out  of  her  life.  Always 
enjoying  Kenneth's  society,  she  had  never  thought 
to  analyze  the  feeling,  but  had  been  content  in 
her  youth  and  innocence  to  taste  the  sweetness  of 
the  present,  without  a  thought  beyond ;  but  in 
this  bitter  moment  she  learned  how  dear  was  the 
face  which  the  merciless  waves  were  bearing  away 
from  her  sight,  perhaps  forever ;  how  precious 
the  tones  whose  echo  was  stifled  in  their  ceaseless 
roar.  She  had  given  her  love  ere  it  had  been 
sought — at  least  in  words.  This  consciousness 
burned  in  her  proud  heart,  girl  as  she  was,  and 
she  resolved  to  bury  it  deep,  and  guard  the  grave 
with  such  jealous  care,  that  no  eye  should  ever 
discover  it.  So,  though  Aunt  Lucia  did  not  fail 
to  note  her  pale  cheeks  and  languid  step,  she  was 
far  from  suscepting  the  real  cause,  but  attributed 
them  to  her  studies — to  which  she  now  devoted 
herself  with  redoubled  assiduity,  and  would  fain 
have  induced  her  to  take  more  recreation.  But 
in  vain ;  Marcia' s  only  refuge  was  constant  em 
ployment  ;  and  meanwhile  the  winter  wore  away, 
and  spring  was  at  hand. 


176  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

Jennie's  star,  far  from  waning,  waxed  brighter 
and  brighter,  and  Mr.  Elmore's  house  was  always 
gay — the  general  rendezvous  of  young  and  old. 
Christabel,  Mr.  MacKensie,  Eugene  Castlemar, 
Clifford  Aubrey,  and  Fred  Huntington  were,  as 
the  latter  laughingly  said,  the  fixtures,  and  as 
much  at  home  in  the  drawing-room  as  the  chairs 
and  sofas ;  and  they  considered  themselves  privi 
leged,  when  by  any  chance  the  outer  world  failed 
to  intrude  upon  their  charmed  circle.  Mr.  Mac 
Kensie  continued  to  take  great  interest  in  Marcia, 
and  frequently  delighted  her  with  some  rare  book 
or  new  song,  a  drive  in  the  park,  or  a  visit  to 
the  Art  Gallery,  where  his  cultivated  taste  seldom 
failed  to  disclose  to  her  some  hidden  beauty  which 
even  her  artist  eyes  had  not  detected,  and  thus 
she  was  indebted  to  him  for  many  valuable  sug 
gestions. 

Attentions  so  delicately  proffered  could  not  but 
have  their  influence,  especially  on  a  nature  so 
grateful  as  Marcia' s  ;  and  she  gradually  learned 
to  rely  on  Mr.  MacKensie  in  every  emergency, 
and  to  look  up  to  him  as  an  umpire  in  all  mooted 
questions.  Lottie,  with  wonderful  discretion, 
though,  like  "  Pafs  Owl"  she  "kept  up  a-Miin7i;- 
ing"  contented  herself  with  remarking  mysteri- 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  177 

ously,  that  although  the  blue-bells  of  Scotland 
were  only  second-best,  they  did  well  enough 
when  first-best  was  not  to  be  had.  But  her  exu 
berant  spirits  were  constantly  effervescing  in  all 
manner  of  fun  and  frolic,  in  which  Fred  was 
always  her  sworn  champion  and  ally,  and  Paul, 
who  at  the  first  of  the  season  had  affected  only 
the  fully  fledged  young  ladies,  suddenly  awaken 
ing  to  the  fact  that  Christabel  was  blossoming 
into  a  beautiful  woman,  this  younger  party  was 
upon  one  pretext  or  another  drawn  so  much  into 
society,  that  Aunt  Lucia  shook  her  head  and 
said  it  was  well  that  the  time  was  fast  approach 
ing  for  their  return  to  Glen  Eden,  as  she  feared 
that,  except  for  Marcia,  Madame  L' Etude's  had 
already  become  a  dead  letter. 

Jennie,  meanwhile,  had  managed  to  keep  the 
scales  so  nicely  balanced  between  her  ardent 
lovers,  as  to  leave  them  in  a  fever  of  doubt  as  to 
which  was  the  favored  one.  But  her  heart  told 
her  that  the  time  for  trifling  was  at  an  end,  when 
one  morning  she  received  a  note  from  Clifford 
Aubrey  begging  her  in  earnest  but  manly  terms 
to  grant  him  a  private  interview.  "I  must,"  he 
wrote,  "put  an  end  to  this  agonizing  suspense 

which  is  paralyzing   my  energies,  rendering  life 
8* 


178  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

unendurable,  and  unfitting  me  for  all  higher 
duties^  If  you  grant  my  request,  I  will  fly  to 
you  at  once  with  a  heart  full  of  hope  ;  but  if,  on 
the  contrary,  you  refuse  it,  I  will  endeavor  to 
tear  from .  my  soul  a  dream  which  has  indeed 
become  a  part  of  my  very  existence,  but  which  I 
shall  be  convinced  can  never  be  realized." 

Jennie  read  and  hesitated  ;  not  that  she  doubted 
her  own  heart,  for  she  could  not  remember  the 
time  when  Clifford' s  image  had  not  reigned  there  ; 
and  although  for  a  while,  after  Kenneth  first  re 
turned,  her  allegiance  had  seemed  to  waver,  she 
was  forced  to  acknowledge  to  herself  that  it  was 
more  from  pique  at  his  manifest  admiration  for 
Marcia  than  from  any  latent  preference.  But  she 
was  not  prepared  to  give  up  her  liberty.  She 
knew  the  stern  nobility  of  soul  that  character 
ized  her  lover  ;  his  rigid  adherence  to  principle  ;. 
the  exalted  ideal  he  entertained  of  woman  ;  and 
she  knew,  too,  that,  his  claims  once  allowed,  he 
would  tolerate  in  the  woman  he  loved  no  deroga 
tion  from  his  high  standard.  Then,  too,  a  re 
morseful  thought  of  the  young  Cuban  crossed  her 
mind.  But  at  length  the  great  master-passion 
triumphed  over  all  lesser  considerations,  and  she 
replied  thus : 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  179 

"  Come ;  I  will  see  you  as  you  request. 

"JENNIE." 

It  was  a  blissful  interview  that  followed.  For 
once  Jennie  forgot  the  "belle  in  the  woman,  and 
all  that  was  ignoble  or  unworthy  faded  before 
the  hallowed  consciousness  that  she  was  supremely 
beloved  by  one  so  worthy  of  her  heart's  best 
affections.  But  when  Clifford,  in  the  exuberance 
of  his  joy,  would  at  once  have  appealed  to  her 
parents  for  their  blessing  on  the  future  to  which 
they  had  pledged  themselves,  she  shrank  back, 
exclaiming : 

"  Oh  no !  not  so  soon  ! " 

A  cloud  arose  to  her  lover's  brow ;  but  it 
soon  passed  when  she  hastened  to  add  : 

"Do  you  wonder  that,  miser-like,  I  hesitate  to 
share  even  with  my  beloved  father  and  mother 
these  first,  sweet,  sacred  moments  that  can  come 
to  us  but  once  in  life  ?  " 

It  was  late  when  they  parted.  She  was  to 
attend  a  large  party  that  night, — the  last  and  most 
brilliant  of  the  season, — and,  as  fate  would  have 
it,  under  the  escort  of  Eugene  Castlemar,  and  she 
sought  her  room  at  once,  making  her  preparations 
an  excuse  for  shutting  out  all  intruders.  But 


ISO  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

left  alone,  she  seemed  in  no  hurry  to  enter  upon 
her  toilet ;  but,  throwing  herself  in  an  easy-chair 
"by  the  fire,  indulged  in  a  long  fit  of  musing. 
Never  had  she  looked  so  transcendently  lovely 
as  she  did  sitting  there  in  the  firelight,  the  color 
coming  and  going  in  her  glowing  cheek  with  the 
ebb  and  flow  of  feeling,  and  a  mysterious  beauty, 
born  of  the  moment,  darkling  in  her  starry  eyes. 
She  was  under  the  spell  of  the  Great  Magician. 
The  fair  expanse  of  the  future  was  absolutely 
cloudless  ;  its  thorns  were  completely  hidden  by 
its  flowers,  and  everything  was  soft  and  tender  ; 
for 

' '  Love  took  up  the  harp  of  life,  and  smote  on  all  the  chords  with 

might ; 

Smote  the  chord  of  Self,  that,  trembling,  passed  in  music  out  of 
sight." 

What  a  pity  it  is  that  these  exquisite  moments 
must  be  so  brief!  That  in  this  cold,  practical 
life  of  ours  there  is  so  much  to  check  our  noble 
impulses  ;  to  awaken  us  rudely  from  our  dreams 
of  possible  goodness  ;  to  stifle  our  yearnings  to  be 
something  purer  and  better  than  we  are  ;  in  short, 
to  draw  us  down  from  the  beautiful  ideal  to  the 
real,  which  always  appears  so  bare  and  uninviting 
by  contrast ! 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  181 

For  Jennie,  the  disenchanting  touch  was  the 
necessity  of  dressing  for  Mrs.  Lindsay's  party  ; 
and  with  a  lingering  sigh  she  arose,  half  wonder 
ing  at  the  mental  revolution  which  caused  her  to 
undertake  with  such  reluctance  what  had  hitherto 
been  a  pleasure.  Even  the  gold-colored  silk, 
with  its  elegant  though  delicate  embroidery  of 
seed  pearls  and  silver,  and  trimmings  of  rare  old 
lace,  no  longer  appeared  tempting,  though  she 
had  boasted  that  very  morning  that  it  would  turn 
half  the  girls'  heads  with  envy,  and  Madame 
Finnesse  had  assured  her  that  one  like  it  could 
not  be  procured  outside  of  Paris,  if,  indeed,  even 
that  renowned  emporium  of  frivolity  and  fashion 
could  produce  such  another.  But  remembering 
that  she  had  promised  Cliiford  to  dress  early,  in 
order  that  she  might  give  him  a  few  moments 
before  it  was  time  to  start,  she  made  an  effort  to 
overcome  her  listlessness ;  succeeding  so  well, 
that  by  the  time  she  stood  before  the  mirror  in 
the  full  splendor  of  her  matchless  attire,  the  softer 
feelings  had  all  died  away,  and  she  was  once 
more  the  acknowledged  belle  of  the  season,  the 
fascinating  Miss  Elmore,  whose  mere  appearance 
on  any  stage  was  the  signal  for  many  a  stout 
heart  to  surrender  at  discretion.  And  indeed  it 


182  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

% 

was  a  faultless  image  which  that  mirror  reflected  ; 
everything  was  complete,  from  the  skilfully  inter 
woven  coronal  of  golden  wheat  and  silver  grapes 
and  the  high  comb,  curiously  wrought  in  gold 
and  frosted  silver,  that  surmounted  her  raven 
tresses,  to  the  delicately  tinted  gloves,  embroid 
ered  like  her  dress  in  pearls  and  silver,  and  fas 
tening  with  gold  buttons  half  way  up  the  rounded 
-arm. 

"I  hope  Clifford  won't  be  cross,"  said  she  half 
aloud.  "  But  this  is  my  last  evening  of  freedom, 
and  I  intend  to  make  it  a  triumph.  By  to-morrow 
he  will  have  told  papa  and  mamma,  and  ere 
another  week  half  New  York  will  be  apprised  of 
our  engagement.  Poor  Castlemar !  I  wonder 
how  he  will  take  it  ?  I  hope  he  won' t  rave  too 
much,  though  I  fear  I  have  treated  him  badly. 
But  he  might  have  known  that  Clifford  and  I 
have  been  lovers  from  infancy.  I  will  be  very 
gracious  to  him  to-night.  There  can  be  no  harm 
in  giving  him  one  more  pleasant  evening,  even  if 
Clifford  should  look  black  about  it.  But  pshaw  I 
what  am  I  thinking  of  ?  I  am  making  a  perfect 
ogre  of  this  lover  of  mine  !  If  he  does  get  angry, 
I  can  find  a  way  to  soothe  him.  I  must  begin  by 
showing  him  that  I  am  not*  afraid  of  him,  or  he 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  183 

will  "become  a  perfect  tyrant,  like  the  rest  of  the 
men  ; "  and  with  this  dangerous  resolve  she  went 
down  to  meet  him. 

Accustomed  as  they  were  to  her  "beauty,  a  mur 
mur  of  admiration  ran  through  the  little  circle  as 
she  entered  the  drawing-room,  and  Clifford  Au 
brey  gazed  at  her  so  fondly  and  proudly  that 
she  feared  his  very  looks  would  betray  their 
secret. 

"Oh,  for  a  shield!"  exclaimed  the  mirthful 
Fred.  "Miss  Jennie,  you  dazzle  me,  and  I  shall 
be  completely  riddled  if  you  look  at  me  another 
moment.  You  will  put  the  finishing-stroke  to 
poor  Castlemar  to-night." 

"I  hope  not,"  said  Jennie,  laughing;  and 
Clifford  whispered,  "  My  promised  wife  knows 
too  well  what  is  due  to  herself,"  as  he  bowed  to 
offer  her  an  exquisite  japonica,  with  a  request 
that  she  should  wear  it  in  her  bosom. 

Lottie  sprang  forward  to  arrange  it,  remarking 
as  she  did  so  :  "  Jennie,  you  do  look  dangerous. 
Mr.  Aubrey,  I  warn  you  to  keep  her  from  contact 
with  the  Mtro-glycerine." 

"But  alas  !  I  am  not  to  be  her  escort,"  said 
Clifford,  smiling,  but  in  a  tone  of  genuine  regret. 

"You  are  not ? "  returned  Lottie  with  percepti- 


184:  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

ble  disappointment.  "Who  then  is  to  claim  the 
honor?" 

"None  other  than  the  inflammable  gentleman 
himself ;  and,  if  I  mistake  not,  here  he  is  to  assert 
his  rights,"  he  added,  as  the  door  opened  and 
Mr.  Castlemar  entered  in  faultless  evening  attire, 
looking  uncommonly  well  and  handsome. 

It  was  indeed  a  bewitching  scene  upon  which 
Clifford  Aubrey  gazed  when  he  presented  him 
self  at  Mrs.  Lindsay's  an  hour  or  two  later.  The 
beauty  and  fashion  of  the  city  had  assembled  to 
do  honor  to  the  occasion  ;  but  peerless  above  them 
all  shone  his  queenly  betrothed.  When  he  en 
tered  she  was  waltzing  with  Mr.  Castlemar,  and 
he  was  whispering  something  to  her  with  a  look 
of  eager  admiration,  while  she  was  listening  with 
a  glowing  face  and  parted  lips  that  sent  an  invol 
untary  pang  to  the  heart  of  her  lover.  Dance 
succeeded  dance,  and  still  Mr.  Aubrey  approached 
Jennie  only  to  see  her  borne  off  by  some  favored 
knight,  happy  to  win  even  a  passing  notice  from 
the  reigning  star.  At  length,  taking  advantage 
of  a  lull  in  the  music,  when  Jennie  was  seated  on 
a  sofa,  though  surrounded  by  a  throng,  as  usual, 
he  bent  over  her  and  said  : 

"  Have  you  then  reserved  no  dance  for  me  ? " 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  185 

"Yes — no — let  me  see,"  said  she  carelessly, 
glancing  over  her  jeweled  tablets.  "Indeed,  Mr. 
Aubrey,  I  fear  my  list  is  full ;  you  came  so  late. 
But  perhaps  after  supper  I  may  give  you  one." 

"After  supper,  then,  I  will  claim  it,"  said  he, 
gravely,  and  without  another  word  he  turned  and 
walked  away. 

Jennie  followed  him  uneasily  with  her  eyes ; 
but  a  delicious  Mazurka  with  Castlemar  soon  put 
everything  else  out  of  her  head.  She  was  pas 
sionately  fond  of  dancing — and  like  most  of  his 
compatriots,  he  danced  remarkably  well ;  and 
wafted  upon  the  waves  of  sound,  he  had  borne 
her  into  the  conservatory  before  she  was  aware  of 
it.  This  was  far  from  her  original  intention,  as  she 
had  firmly  resolved  at  all  risks  to  avoid  a  tete-a- 
tete  with  him.  But  the  subdued  light,  the  mur 
mur  of  the  tinkling  fountains,  the  air  laden  with 
the  breath  of  a  thousand  flowers  were  too  tempt 
ing,  and  without  reflecting  that  "ce  n'estquele 
premier  pas  qui  coute,"  she  yielded,  and  allowed 
him  to  place  her  on  a  low  divan,  while  he  took 
the  seat  beside  her. 

"Would  that  I  might  sit  thus,  and  gaze  into 
your  eyes  forever !  "  said  he  fervidly.  "  Would 
that  I  might  bear  you  to  some  lone  isle  in  mid- 


186  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

ocean,  where  the  world  could  not  intrude,  and 
there,  rearing  a  shrine  meet  for  my  idol,  worship 
you  as  one  apart — a  glorious  being  whose  every 
pulse  was  mine  and  mine  alone." 

"O  Mr.  Castlemar!  I  fear  your  ideas  are 
more  poetical  than  practical,"  said  she  with  a 
laugh,  albeit  somewhat  nervous,  for  there  was  a 
look  of  passion  in  his  dark  eyes  that  made  her 
tremble. 

"  Oh  !  why  will  you  always  meet  my  devotion, 
my  idolatry  with  a  jest?"  said  he  bitterly. 
"Nay!"  as  she  made  a  motion  to  rise,  "you 
must  hear  me.  I  love  you ! — I  adore  you  !  My 
very  soul — my  existence — my  heaven,  both  here 
and  hereafter,  depend  upon  your  answer !  Do  you 
— can  you  love  me  in  return  ? " 

"Yes! — I  don't  know — you  are  so  sudden! — 
give  me  time!"  gasped  Jennie,  terrified  at  the- 
whirlwind  she  had  herself  evoked. 

"Time!  Yes!  I  will  give  you  months,  years, 
a  lifetime  !  I  will  serve  for  you  as  Jacob  did  for 
Rachel,  if  you  can  but  bid  me  hope." 

What  evil  genius  prompted  Jennie  to  say — 
"Hope,  then;  I  cannot  refuse  you  so  poor  a  boon, 
— you,  who  have  given  so  much  and  ask  so  lit 
tle!" 


EBON  ANI>  GOLD.  187 

Fatal  words,  for  which  she  loathed  herself  as 
soon  as  they  were  uttered  ;  and  turning  her  head 
to  avoid  the  enraptured  gaze  of  her  companion,  she 
looked  up  just  in  time  to  see  Clifford  Aubrey  pass 
out  of  the  open  door  with  a  face  white  with  an 
guish.  He  must,  then,  have  seen  and  heard  all. 
Oh !  the  agony  of  that  moment  was  ample  re 
venge  for  countless  victims.  But  absorbed  in  his 
happiness,  her  companion  had  perceived  nothing, 
till  at  last,  observing  her  unusual  pallor,  he  was 
filled  with  alarm,  nearly  distracting  her  with 
questions.  She  assured  him  that  it  was  nothing 
but  a  passing  faintness,  at  the  same  time  acceding 
eagerly  to  his  proposal  to  order  the  carriage. 

The  misery  she  "endured  through  the  long 
watches  of  that  weary  night  none  would  ever 
know.  At  first  she  was  convinced  that  all  was 
lost — Aubrey  never  could  forgive  her.  But  youth 
is  ever  impatient  of  sorrow,  and  at  length  she  per 
suaded  herself  that  there  was  still  hope.  She 
would  so  far  humble  her  pride  as  to  write  to  him 
to  come  to  her ;  and  once  at  her  side,  she  would 
pour  out  her  penitence  and  her  sorrow ;  she 
would  even  promise  never  to  see  Castlemar 
again,  and  he  could  not  but  relent.  But  it  was  a 
very  genuine  headache  which  caused  her  to  keep 


188  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

her  "bed  next  morning  and  send  back  her  break 
fast  untasted,  and  although,  in  reply  to  her 
mother's  tender  questioning,  she  only  begged  to  be 
left  alone  that  she  might  sleep,  solitude  brought 
not  the  coveted  slumber.  Her  mood  changed 
again.  What  had  she  done  more  than  scores  of 
others  were  doing  daily  ; — and  what  was  Clifford 
Aubrey,  that  he  should  sit  in  judgment  upon  her? 
Let  him  alone  and  he  would  come  to  his  senses. 
If  she  should  send  for  him  he  would  only  despise 
her  for  lowering  her  pride.  And  thus  she  tossed 
and  turned,  unable  to  rest ;  and  when,  as  the  day 
wore  on,  Lottie  came  softly  to  the  door,  she  found 
her  still  awake,  and  looking  so  worn  and  haggard, 
that  she  exclaimed : 

"Why,  Jennie!  what  a  troublesome  head  you 
must  have !  The  party  last  night  must  have  been 
overpowering  indeed,  to  affect  you  so  seriously. 
To  think  of  your  having  stood  up  so  bravely  un 
der  such  an  avalanche  of  them  this  winter,  to  be 
so  overcome  by  the  last !  But  I  will  not  worry 
you  with  my  chatter.  I  have  something  in  my 
pocket  that  will  do  you  more  good  than  all  my 
nonsense — that  is,  if  you  like  the  writer  as  well  as 
I  hope  and  believe  you  do.  Clifford  Aubrey's 
man  brought  it  about  an  hour  ago  ;  and  as  it  ap- 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  1S9 

pears  to  "be  quite  a  missive,  I  have  no  doubt  it 
contains  something  very  sweet ;  so  I  will  leave 
you  to  read  it  in  peace  and  go  to  sleep  afterwards  ;" 
and  laying  it  gently  on  the  pillow,  she  left  the 
room. 

With  flushed  cheeks  and  trembling  hands,  Jen 
nie  grasped  the  note,  which  she  knew  contained 
her  fate.  Would  it  confirm  her  hopes  or  would  it, 
alas  !  put  the  seal  to  her  despair  ?  She  paused, 
longing  yet  dreading  to  learn  its  contents.  But  at 
last,  with  a  gesture  of  impatience  at  her  own  weak 
ness,  she  opened  it  and  read : 

"  God  forgive  you,  Jennie !  A  few  "brief  hours 
ago,  I  would  have  staked  my  life  upon  your  truth; 
and  now,  I  have  not  only  lost  all  faith  in  that,  but 
almost  in  the  very  name  of  woman.  I  was  an  in 
voluntary  witness  of  all  that  passed  between  you 
and  Castlemar  in  the  conservatory.  Great  God  ! 
that  one  so  fair  can  be  so  false !  Had  any  one 
told  me  what  I  there  saw  and  heard,  I  would  have 
branded  him  with  his  falsehood  to  his  face.  But 
no  !  my  own  senses  were  destined  to  bear  me  tes 
timony  of  my  own  undoing.  I  have  proved  my 
idol,  and  found  it  of  clay  ;  and  though  it  rend  my 
soul  to  do  it,  I  will  tear  your  image  from  the  heart 


190  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

that  lias  never  known  a  throb  that  was  not  loyal 
to  you.  The  dream  was  very  sweet,  and  would 
to  God  that  I  had  never  awakened !  But  ife  is  over 
now,  and  I  must  crush  out  all  lingering  traces  of 
it,  and  light  the  less  hallowed  fires  of  ambition  at 
the  ashes  of  a  love  which  is  already  cold  and  dead. 
Still  there  is  enough  of  tenderness  clinging  to  the 
memory  of  the  past,  to  enable  me  to  hope,  in  all 
sincerity,  that  your  own  future  may  never  know 
the  shadow  which  you  have  cast  over  that  of 

"CLIFFOKD  AUBREY." 

Who  can  describe  Jennie's  agony  as  she  read 
these  fatal  words  !  In  that  hour  her  soul  found  its 
Gethsemane ;  but  not  in  the  spirit  of  the  holy 
Saviour  did  she  accept  the  chalice  presented  to 
her.  Her  whole  soul  revolted  against  the  bitter 
draught;  and  when  at  last  she  came  out  of  the 
terrible  struggle,  it  was  with  a  calmness  born  not 
of  resignation,  but  despair,  and  with  a  resolve 
before  which  her  guardian  angel  shrank  back  af 
frighted. 

The  next  morning  found  her  at  the  breakfast- 
table  as  usual ;  and  although  her  unaccustomed 
pallor  elicited  many  sympathizing  remarks,  it  was 
attributed  to  her  severe  headache,  and  excited  no 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  191 

other  comment.  The  smile  never  forsook  her  lips, 
nor  the  brightness  her  eyes,  and  her  laugh  rang 
out  even  more  frequently  than  was  her  wont; 
"but  her  mother,  though  unsuspicious,  sometimes 
started  when  she  heard  it,  chiding  herself  after 
wards  for  the  nervous  fancy  that  it.  sounded  forced 
and  unnatural.  She  was  first  on  every  festive  occa 
sion,  and  plunged  into  all  gayeties  more  madly 
than  ever,  as  if  to  make  up,  so  Lottie  said,  for  the 
quiet  time  she  expected  to  have  at  Glen  Eden. 
But  Clifford  Aubrey  came  to  the  house  no  more, 
while  Eugene  Castlemar  was  her  very  shadow : 
facts  which  caused  her  watchful  parents  some 
uneasiness.  But  Paul  told  them  that  Clifford  was 
in  the  far  west,  attending  to  some  law-business, 
and  they  had  become  so  accustomed  to  Castle- 
mar's  attentions  that  they  were  taken  completely 
by  surprise,  when  one  morning,  with  a  face 
radiant  with  delight,  he  solicited  a  private  inter 
view,  and  presented  himself  to  them  as  Jennie's 
accepted  lover.  So  persuaded  were  -they  that  her 
heart  was  with  the  lover  of  her  childhood,  that 
they  would  fain  have  remonstrated ;  but  Jennie 
denied  the  supposition  so  emphatically,  and  advo 
cated  Castlemar' s  cause  so  warmly,  growing  posi 
tively  eloquent  over  his  devotion,  that  they  were 


192  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

» 

obliged  to  yield  a  reluctant  consent.  But  they 
consoled  themselves  with  the  thought  of  a  long  en 
gagement,  and  were  totally  unprepared  when 
Jennie  united  with  Castlemar  in  appointing  an 
early  day  for  the  nuptials.  In  vain  they  sighed  ; 
in  vain  Lottie  pouted  and  grew  cross,  and  Paul 
said  impatiently : 

"  Jennie  must  "be  crazy  ;  for  though  Castlemar 
was  a  good  fellow,  any  one  could  see  that  he  was 
jealous  as  Satan ! ' '  Even  Mta  and  Dick,  who  had 
never  overcome  their  first  impression  of  Eugene, 
had  something  to  say  ;  but  Jennie  quietly  tri 
umphed  over  all  obstacles,  and  when  they  all  left 
for  Glen  Eden  a  few  weeks  later,  the  day  was 
fixed,  though  Jennie  checked  her  lover' s  grateful 
raptures,  by  telling  him  that  she  wished  to  devote 
the  short  interval  left  to  her,  entirely  to  her  family ; 
forbiding  him  to  come  to  her  until  the  auspi 
cious  moment  had  arrived. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

' '  Comfort  ?    Comfort  scorned  of  devils  !    this  is  truth  the  poet 

sings, 

That  a  sorrow's  crown  of  sorrow  is  remembering  happier  things. 
Drug  thy  memories  lest  thou  learn  it,  lest  thy  heart  be  put  to 

proof, 
In  the  dead,  unhappy  night,  and  when  the  rain  is  on  the  roof." 

TENNYSON. 


y      ^ 

HO  will  join  me  for  a  walk  ? "  said  Lottie, 
as  she  arose  from  the  breakfast-table  one 
bright  morning,  when  they  had  been  at  Glen 
Eden  about  three  weeks.  "  Not  a  soul  has  been 
off  the  place  since  here  we've  been,  and  I  for  one 
begin  to  feel  like  a  fossil  remain  or  some  other  kind 
of  petrifaction." 

"For  my  part,"  said  Jennie,  yawning,  "the 
grounds  afford  me  ample  space  for  all  the  exercise 
I  require,  and  I  never  could  understand  the  charm 
you  seem  to  find  in  these  long  midsummer  ram 
bles." 

9 


194  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

"Oil!  you  are  excusable,"  returned  Lottie; 
"young  ladies  in  your  position  are  not  supposed 
to  find  anything  charming  "but  writing  letters  tp 
.  their  fiance,  or  reading  his  over  ;  or  indulging  in 
interminable  fits  of  musing,  with  his  picture  for  an 
inspiration." 

"Nonsense!"  interrupted  Jennie,  coloring, 
while  she  endeavored  to  check,  with  a  light  laugh, 
the  lingering  sigh  that  arose  to  her  lips  ;  and  Lot 
tie  rattled  on  : 

"  There  is  Marcia,  now  ;  she  is  neither  engaged 
— nor  expecting  to  be,  for  all  I  know — and  she 
looks  as  if  a  little  fresh  air  might  do  her  good.  I 
intend  to  levy  on  her  for  a  companion." 

"And  I  have  been  wanting  to  offer  myself  as 
volunteer  aid  to  your  expedition  ever  since  you 
first  proposed  it,"  said  Marcia,  "  but  you  have  not 
given  me  a  chance." 

"  What  do  you  say  to  that,  chatterbox  ? "  said 
Mr.  Elmore,  gathering  up  his  papers  to  leave  the 
room.  "  Our  quiet  lady  makes  a  home-thrust  oc 
casionally.  But  off  with  you,  and,"  stroking  Mar 
cia' s  pale  cheek  as  he  passed,  "don't  forget  to 
bring  back  some  roses." 

The  two  girls  were  soon  bonneted  and  equipped  ; 
but  the  sweet  freshness  of  the  balmy  air,  and  the 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  195 

calm  beauty  of  the  woods  and  lanes,  stole  over 
them  with  such  silent  power,  that  for  some  time 
they  walked  on  without  speaking. 

At  last  Marcia  exclaimed,  "  O  Lottie,  how  much 
better  this  is  than  N"ew  York !  I  never  before  re 
alized  the  truth  of  the  commonplace  adage  :  '  God 
made  the  country,  but  man  made  the  town  ; '  and 
I  pity  those  who  are  doomed  to  pass  their  whole 
lives,  shut  up  amid  brick  and  mortar,  in  unhappy 
ignorance  of  green  fields  and  waving  forests.  True, 
the  park  is  lovely  ;  but  it  is  so  artificial !  It  seems 
as  if  even  one's  admiration  must  be  regulated  by 
rule  and  measure  ;  and  although  we  may  glory  in 
these  triumphs  of  man's  skill  and  ingenuity,  it  is, 
after  all,  the  beauty  that  comes  fresh  from  the  hand 
of  God,  still  glowing  with  His  primeval  touch, 
that  causes  the  soul  to  respond  even  as  '  deep 
answers  unto  deep.' ' 

"  You  are  a  poet  and  an  enthusiast,  cousin 
mine,"  said  Lottie  ;  "  but  prosaic  as  I  am,  I  must 
confess  that  I  partake  of  your  mood  on  this  occa 
sion  ;  though  I  doubt  if  these  gay  New  Yorkers 
would  thank  us  for  our  commiseration.  Their 
unmeaning  round  of  gayeties  is  to  them  the  epit 
ome  of  all  that  is  delightful  in  existence,  and  a 
winter  of  balls,  parties,  operas,  and  theatres,  sue- 


196  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

ceeded  by  a  crowded  season  at  Saratoga,  the  acme 
of  human  felicity." 

"  I  must  own  to  a  liking  for  the  balls,  parties, 
and  theatres  in  their  season,"  said  Marcia,  "and 
the  opera  is  always  enchanting  ;  but  I  like  them 
with  little  interludes  of  the  Art  Gallery,  home 
enjoyments,  and  something  that  appeals  more  di 
rectly  to  the  intellect.  And  as  for  Saratoga  !  I 
would  drop  it  out  of  my  plan  entirely  :  the  mere 
thought  of  it  makes  me  breathless." 

"  Drop  Saratoga!  "  exclaimed  Lottie,  in  mock 
consternation.  "  Oh,  you  dear,  delightful  little 
piece  of  verdancy,  I  fear  you  will  never  make  one 
of  the  beau-monde  :  for  them,  that  would  indeed  be 
'  the  play  of  Hamlet,  with  Hamlet  left  out.' ' 

"  I  cannot  help  it,"  returned  Marcia  ;  "  and  in 
deed  I  don't  believe  I  ever  was  intended  for  a 
fashionable  lady.  Imagine  me,  for  instance,  with 
such  a  train  of  admirers  as  Jennie.  I  am  sure  I 
should  turn  positively  crazy:5 ' 

"  Yes,  Jennie  did  indeed  play  havoc  with  the 
hearts — and  I  suppose  her  winter  might  be  called  a 
grand  success  :  carrying  off  the  laurels  from  every 
festive  scene,  and  closing  with  eclat  by  capturing 
the  lion  of  the  season— ugh  !  "  and  Lottie  shud 
dered,  "I  wish  he  were  safe  in  his  native  wilds." 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  197 

"Hush,  Lottie  !  try  to  reconcile  yourself  to  what 
cannot  be  helped.  And  after  all,  though  we  may 
think  that  Jennie  would  have  been  happier  with 
Clifford  Aubrey,  she  ought  to  know  best,  and  any 
one  can  see  that  Mr.  Castlemar  worships  the 
very  ground  she  treads." 

"  Yes,"  said  Lottie  impatiently ;  "  but  his  is  not 
the  generous  worship  which  rejoices  in  the  hom 
age  elicited  by  its  object.  He  would  keep  her 
loveliness  for  himself,  and  himself  alone,  and  he 
grows  furiously  jealous  if  one  but  casts  an  admir 
ing  glance  upon  her.  He  may  be  rich  enough,  for 
all  I  know,  to  give  her  a  palace  of  gold  studded 
with  jewels  ;  but,  mark  my  words,  however  splen 
did  it  may  be,  she  will  find  it  a  gilded  cage,  and  it 
will  be  the  old  story  of 

"  '  Chains  that  gall,  though  wreathed  with  flowers.' " 

"  Oh  no  !  "  said  Marcia,  recoiling  from  this 
gloomy  picture.  "It  is  your  fears  that  give  to 
the  future  so  sombre  a  coloring.  I  cannot  think 
that  so  dark  a  fate  is  in  store  for  one  who  seems 
born  to  revel  in  the  sunshine." 

"  Well,  I  hope  not,"  said  Lottie  gloomily  ;  "  but 
I  cannot  believe  that  Jennie's  heart  is  in  this  mar 
riage.  There  is  some  mystery  about  it.  Do  you 


198  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

remember  the  night  of  Mrs.  Lindsay' s  party — the 
night  that  Jennie  came  into  the  drawing-room  look 
ing  so  beautiful  ?  There  was  an  expression  in  Clif 
ford's  eyes,  as  they  rested  upon  her,  that  seemed 
to  tell  me,  as  plainly  as  words  could  have  done, 
that  there  was  some  understanding  between  them, 
and  in  my  delight  I  could  scarcely  refrain  from 
saying  so  at  the  time.  Then  followed  Jennie's 
fearful  headache.  Clifford  came  to  the  house  no 
more,  and  in  less  than  a  month  she  announced  her 
engagement  with  Eugene  Castlemar.  It  was  all  so 
sudden.  I  cannot  make  it  out.  I  am  sure  there  is 
something  wrong." 

"  Oh  well !"  said  Marcia  soothingly,  "let  us 
try  not  to  think  about  it,  but  to  think  only  that 
there  is  One  above,  who  keeps  watch  over  us  and 
over  those  we  love,  who  knows  better  how  to  care 
for  us  than  we  know  ourselves — remember, 

'  "  Cast  all  your  care  on  God :  that  anchor  holds  I ' " 

"  Thank  you,  my  deat  comforter  !  "  replied  Lot 
tie  fondly.  "  I  cannot  be  gloomy  when  I  am  with 
you.  Do  you  know,  if  you  were  the  earth,  and 
I  were  your  moon,  your  nights  would  never  know 
darkness,  for  I  could  show  you  only  my  bright 
side.  But  do  you  know  where  I  am  taking  you 
this  morning  \ " 


EBON  AND '  GOLD.  199 

"  No  !  I  have  never  thought  to  inquire ;  I 
thought  we  were  only  out  for  a  walk.' ' 

"  And  so  we  are.  But  as  it  is  better  to  give  the 
walk  an  object,  suppose  we  call  on  poor  old  Mrs. 
Jeffries  ;  she  would  take  it  as  a  great  honor,  and 
Jeffries  who  was  here  yesterday,  says  that  she  is 
grieving  sadly  "because  they  have  no  news  from 
Kenneth." 

A  pang  shot  through  Marcia's  heart  at  this  sug 
gestion.  The  last  time  she  had  visited  the  Ivy  had 
been  with  an  impromptu  party  of  the  young  peo 
ple  of  the  neighborhood,  who  had  assembled  there 
for  a  parting  frolic,  just  before  they  left  for  New 
York,  and  on  this  occasion  Kenneth  had  singled 
her  out  as  the  object  of  special  attention.  She 
blushed  to  re-think  how  she  had  remembered  and 
prized  what  had  no  doubt  been  to  him  mere  idle 
courtesies  ;  for,  as  she  always  reasoned  with  her 
self,  if  he  had  ever  cared  for  her  he  could  not  have 
gone  off  as  he  did,  without  a  word.  And  thus  the 
past  ever  possessed  for  her  a  double  pang  :  she 
was  wounded  alike  in  her  pride  and  her  love. 
But  there  was  no  trace  of  these  emotions  in  the 
cheerful  tone  with  which  she  replied  : 

"Let  us  go,  by  all  means  ;  it  was  like  you  to 
think  of  it." 


200  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

The  old  house  looked  deserted  and  empty 
enough,  with  its  closed  shutters  staring  blankly 
through  the  green  leaves  ;  for  although  everything 
around  it  was  in  perfect  order,  no  care  could  di 
vest  it  of  the  desolate,  melancholy  aspect  that  al 
ways  clings  to  an  uninhabited  mansion. 

"  We  will  not  make  an  entree  in  state  this  time  ; 
it  will  be  so  much  nicer  to  take  the  dame  by  sur 
prise,"  said  Lottie,  as  she  turned  from  the  main 
avenue  into  a  by-path  leading  around  the  side  of 
the  house,  where  a  door  opened  from  the  house 
keeper'  s  room  into  the  shrubbery. 

This  door  was  now  open,  and  Mrs.  Jeffries  was 
sitting  on  the  step,  knitting  so  intently  that  she 
did  not  notice  their  approach,  till  Lottie  put  her 
hand  on  her  shoulder,  saying  : 

"  That  must  be  a  very  important  stocking,  since 
it  engrosses  you  so  that  you  have  not  a  word  for 
old  friends." 

"O  Miss  Lottie!  Miss  Marcia!"  exclaimed 
the  good  old  lady,  rising  in  a  tremor,  and  execut 
ing  a  perfect  succession  of  curtsies  in  her  delight. 
"I  am  that  glad  to  see  you,  that  I  can't  find 
tongue  to  tell  it.  But  don't  think  as  it  was  the 
stocking  that  took  my  wits  just  now — I  could 
turn  off  a  score  of  them  and  not  give  it  a  thought, 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  201 

old  as  I  be.  It's  my  bairn  that  sets  me  a-mooning  ; 
and  as  you  found  me  to-day,  so  you  might  find 
me  most  days — but,"  added  she  with  a  sudden 
gleam  of  hope,  "mayhap  you've  come  to  bring 
me  tidings?"  and  she  looked  wistfully  into  Lot 
tie's  face. 

"I  wish  I  could,"  said  Lottie  sympathizingly  ; 
"  but  we  have  not  heard  a  word  since  he  left.  But 
don't  fret,"  she  added,  smiling,  "it  will  all  come 
right.  Kenneth  is  surely  big  enough  to  take  care 
of  himself." 

"Yes,  but  it  beats  my  time,  what  could  have 
taken  him  off  tofurrin  parts  agin  so  soon  and  so  sud 
den — and  the  letter  he  writ  me  !  it  was  fit  to  break 
my  heart.  I've  read  it  and  cried  over  it,  till  it  is 
e'ena'most  worn  out,  but  if  you  and  t'other  miss 
would  like  to  see  it,  here  it  is,"  said  she,  taking  it 
from  her  pocket,  wrapped  carefully  in  a  clean 
white  handkerchief. 

Lottie  read  it,  and  then,  with  eyes  filled  with 
tears,  handed  it  to  Marcia. 

"My  dear  good  old  nurse."  it  began.  "I  am 
going  far  away,  and  for  a  long  while  ;  but  al 
though  I  have  but  little  time,  I  cannot  go  without  a 
word  to  you.  If  I  do  not  find  what  I  feel  bound 
to  seek,  I  may,  perhaps — but  no  !  I  dare  not  cal- 


202  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

culate  upon  anything  in  the  future  that  will 
enable  me  to  hope  that  my  dreams  of  a  happy 
life  at  the  Ivy  will  ever  "be  realized.  I  need  not 
charge  you  and  Jeffries  to  take  good  care  of  the 
dear  old  place,  for  you  have  always  done  ao  ;  "but 
I  do  charge  you  to  keep  my  room  always  ready  for 
me,  night  and  day  ;  as  to  know  that  there  is  one 
spot  on  earth  where  a  welcome  is  awaiting  me  will 
"be  some  consolation  to 

Your  Iboy 

KENNETH." 

"  Poor  Kenneth  ! "  said  Lottie,  "  I  wonder  what 
can  "be  the  matter !  even  Paul  can' t  imagine.  But, " 
she  added  cheeringly  to  the  dame,  "don't  grieve ; 
he  will  "be  walking  in  on  you  some  fine  morning, 
when  you  least  expect  him,  and,  who  knows?  per 
haps  he  will  bring  a  wife  with  him  from  across 
the  seas." 

"As  to  that,  I  think  he  might  find  one  nearer 
home  ;  but  however  he  comes,  it  will  do  these  old 
eyes  good  to  see  him,  and  even  the  furrin  leddy 
would  be  welcome  for  his  sake." 

The  two  girls  chatted  a  while  longer  with  their 
old  friend,  leaving  her  at  last,  as  she  said,  with  a 
lighter  heart  than  she  had  known  for  "  mony  a 
day." 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  203 

But  if  Marcia  left  any  "brightness  behind  her, 
she  certainly  reserved  none  to  take  away  with 
her ;  for  she  was  so  silent  and  preoccupied  during 
their  homeward  walk,  that  Lottie  assured  her 
that  an  automaton  would  have  been  as  interesting 
a  companion ;  and  her  uncle,  who  was  on  the  ver 
anda  when  they  arrived,  told  her  that  if  she 
had  obeyed  his  injunction  about  the  roses,  she 
had  certainly  gathered  none  but  white  .ones,  as  her 
cheeks  were  even  paler  than  usual. 

In  the  meantime  the  day  fixed  for  the  wedding 
was  fast  approaching ;  and  despite  all  their  efforts, 
a  shadow  brooded  over  the  little  circle  as  it  drew 
near.  To  give  up  their  child,  under  the  happiest 
circumstances,  would  have  been  a  bitter  trial  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elmore ;  but  to  relinquish  her  to 
one  who  was  a  comparative  stranger,  and  whose 
home  was  so  far  distant ;  and,  too,  with  a  more 
than  half  conviction  that  she  loved  another,  was 
indeed  hard  to  bear.  Jennie  alone  kept  up  her 
cheerfulness,  but  she  seemed  the  very  embodi 
ment  of  restlessness.;  and  when,  on  two  or  three  oc 
casions,  her  mother  would  fain  have  discussed 
with  her  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  the 
solemn  state  she  was  about  to  enter,  she  would 
dwell  only  on  the  gayeties  she  anticipated,  and  the 


204:  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

splendors  with  which,  she  expected  to  be  sur 
rounded.  It  had  been  agreed  that  the  bridal  pair 
were  to  leave  immediately  for  Europe,  to  spend  a 
year,  or  perhaps  two,  in  viewing  the  wonders  of  the 
Old  World  before  settling  down  on  their  magnifi 
cent  estates  in  Cuba,  where  Castlemar  was  already 
having  arrangements  made  to  build  a  perfect 
palace  for  his  beautiful  bride.  It  was  to  be  an 
evening  wedding  on  the  grandest  scale;  and  as 
Jennie,  with  a  carte-blanche  from  her  indulgent 
father,  had  devoted  her  last  days  in  New  York  to 
selecting  and  ordering  her  trousseau,  loads  of 
finery  began  to  arrive  which  might  have  bewil 
dered  and  enchanted  even  a  Parisian  Modiste. 
Castlemar,  too,  was  so  lavish  in  his  offerings,  that 
Lottie  suggested  that  it  would  save  him  trouble 
to  have  the  entire  establishment  of  Ball  &  Black 
transferred  to  Glen  Eden  at  once,  pretending  at 
the  same  time  to  a  great  fear  that  they  would  be 
murdered  in  their  beds  for  the  sake  of  the  jewels. 
More  than  one  gay  belle  would  have  been  glad  to 
officiate  as  bridesmaid  for  their  fair  rival  of  the 
preceding  winter ;  but  Jennie,  as  if  with  prophetic 
consciousness  of  what  was  to  be  the  great  dearth 
of  her  life  in  the  future,  would  have  none  but  lov 
ing  hearts  to  attend  her  ;  so  her  train  was  to  con- 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  205 

sist  of  Lottie  and  Fred  Huntington,  Paul  and 
Christabel,  Marcia  and  Mr.  MacKensie,  and  last, 
but  certainly,  in  their  own  opinion,  not  least,  Nita 
and  Dick. 

And  time  wore  on  apace,  and  at  length  but  one 
day  remained  before  the  nuptials  ;  Jennie's  last 
quiet  day  with  those  whose  darling  and  pride  she 
had  been  from  her  very  infancy  ;  for  the  morrow 
would  bring  not  only  Castlemar,  but  Glen  Eden 
would  be  filled  with  guests.  During  all  these 
weeks  she  had  never  allowed  herself  to  pause  and 
think,  and  on  this  day  she  had  busied  herself 
with  a  thousand  trifles,  as  if  to  banish  reflection 
to  the  very  last.  But  as  the  evening  stole  on,  and 
she  sat  on  the  veranda  in  the  midst  of  her  dear 
ones,  while  the  moon  shed  a  silvery  halo  around 
each  familiar  face,  and  lent  an  added  loveliness  to 
the  home  that  would  soon  be  hers  no  longer,  the 
lava-tide  of  recollection  overpowered  her ;  and 
making  a  hasty  excuse,  she  left  them,  fearing  to 
lose  the  rigid  self-control  she  had  marked  out  for 
herself. 

Scarcely  knowing  whither  her  steps  tended,  she 
entered  the  library,  and  throwing  herself  down 
on  a  sofa  with  a  gesture  of  despair,  she  moaned : 
"O  my  God!  what  am  I  doing — What  am  I 


206  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

leaving — and  for  whom?  Clifford!  Clifford!  if 
you  had  ever  loved  me,  could  you  have  been  so 
unrelenting!  To  think  that  I  might  have  been 
your  bride  ! — but  it  is  too  late — too  late — and  to 
morrow  I  will  be — "  Here  her  voice  died  away  in 
an  inarticulate  whisper ;  and  starting  up,  she  ex 
claimed,  "  But  what  fiend  has  sent  these  memories 
to  torment  me  ?  If  anything  could  add  to  the  an 
guish  of  this  hour,  it  is  the  thought  of  the  past, 
which  my  own  hand  has  blotted  out  forever !  I 
can — I  must — I  will  forget  it ! "  But  the  storm  of 
grief,  so  long  repressed,  now  swept  over  her  in  all 
its  fury ;  and  believing  herself  alone,  she  did  not 
try  to  check  it,  and  covering  her  face  with  her 
hands,  she  bowed  her  head  on  the  table  beside 
her,  and  her  whole  frame  was  convulsed  with 
tearless  sobs. 

But  there  was  a  witness  to  her  anguish,  al 
though  she  knew  it  not,  hidden  in  the  embrasure 
of  the  bay-window.  Marcia  was  in  the  library 
when  she  entered,  although  unaware  of  her  pres 
ence  till  her  broken  exclamations  reached  her 
ear,  and  then  she  hesitated  whether  to  remain  or 
to  retire.  As  she  shrank  from  listening  to  revela 
tions  which,  she  knew,  were  intended  for  no  hu 
man  ear,  and  knowing  that  she  could  not  leave 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  207 

the  room  without  being  seen,  she  shrank  equally 
from  wounding  Jennie's  pride  "by  revealing  to 
her  that  she  was  cognizant  of  her  secret ;  but  at 
the  sight  of  such  agony  all  other  consideratio.ns 
were  lost  in  the  longing  to  comfort  the  suffering 
girl,  and,  if  possible,  save  her  from  herself. 

Springing  forward,  and  laying  her  hand  on  her 
shoulder,  she  exclaimed  eagerly:  "Jennie!  O 
dear  Jennie !  please  hear  me.  Let  me  implore 
you — pause  while  there  is  yet  time  !  take  not  up 
on  yourself  vows  which  it  will  be  sacrilege  for 
you  to  utter.  Even  at  the  foot  of  the  altar  it 
would  not  be  too  late  to  retract — and  oh !  how  can 
you  expect  anything  but  misery  to  come  of  such 
desecration  of  the  dearest  and  holiest  of  human 
ties ! " 

"  Marica  Lyle  ! "  almost  shrieked  Jennie,  recoil 
ing  from  her  touch,  "how  came  you  hither?  I 
thought  myself  alone,  or  tortures  would  not  have 
wrung  from  me  the  secret  you  have  discovered. 
Oh !  could  I  not  at  least  have  been  spared  this 
humiliation !  Is  there  no  drop  of  the  bitter  cup, 
that  I  may  leave  untasted  ?  But  it  is  useless  for 
you  to  plead  with  me ;  I  have  pledged  myself  to 
become  Eugene  Castlemar's  wife,  and  I  will  re 
deem  the  pledge,  even  if  an  angel  stand  in  the 


208  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

way.  Never  fear !  I  have  weighed  the  conse 
quences  and  I  accept  them.  You  have  witnessed 
my  last  moment  of  weakness." 

And  in  vain  Marcia  expostulated  and  entreated  ; 
Jennie  was  immovable.  And  before  they  parted, 
she  had  exacted  from  her  cousin  a  solemn  prom 
ise  never  to  betray  her.  At  first  Marcia  had  re 
fused  ;  but  convinced  at  last,  that  to  speak  would 
be  productive  of  nothing  but  unhappiness,  she 
yielded ;  though  when  she  retired  that  night,  it 
was  to  a  pillow  as  sleepless  as  Jennie's  own. 

The  morning  dawned  as  cloudless  a  harbinger 
of  a  bridal  as  one  could  well  desire,  and  with  it 
came  Castlemar  and  the  rest  of  the  guests.  Throw 
ing  herself  at  once  into  the  bustle  and  excitement 
of  the  occasion,  Jennie  played  her  part  with  a 
perfection  that  astonished  Marcia,  who  wondered 
whence  she  evoked  her  beaming  smiles  and  spark 
ling  sallies.  Indeed,  her  self-command  never  failed 
her,  and  all  acknowledged  that  they  had  never 
seen  a  lovelier  bride.  Her  dress  of  rich,  soft,  lus 
trous  satin,  with  flounce  and  veil  of  rare  old 
point,  was  marvellously  becoming,  and  even  the 
most  captious  could  find  nothing  to  complain  of 
but  her  extreme  pallor ;  but  even  this  was  con 
ceded  to  be  interesting  in  a  bride,  and  so — the  en- 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  209 

vied  of  all  the  envious — and  the  admired  of  all  ad 
mirers — Jennie  was  launched  into  matrimony  in  a 
golden  mist  of  glory,  that  seemed  the  "brightest 
augury  of  a  blissful  future.  True,  in  her  own 
home  bitter  tears  were  dropped  over  the  place 
which  she  had  left  vacant ;  but  we  are  apt  to  put 
faith  in  what  we  desire  intensely — and  after  a 
time,  even  those  who  were  most  doubtful,  began 
to  believe  in  the  reality  of  their  darling' s  happi 
ness  ;  and  of  the  whole  world,  only  Marcia  knew 
what  an  aching  heart  and  shattered  hopes  lay 
hidden  beneath  the  fair  exterior. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

"  Man  cannot  make,  but  may  ennoble,  fate, 

By  nobly  bearing  it.     So  let  us  trust 
Not  to  ourselves,  but  G-od,  and  calmly  wait 
Love's  orient  out  of  darkness  and  of  dust." 

OWEN  MEREDITH. 

T  the  usual  hour  in  the  evening,  the  dili- 
gence  rattled  through  the  street  of  an  ob 
scure  German  town  not  absolutely  un 
known  to  us,  but  indebted  for  its  name  and  its 
small  measure  of  fame  entirely  to  the  neighboring 
torrent  of  Drachenfels.  Mine  host  and  his  good 
frau  stood  in  the  door  of  the  inn,  ready  to  welcome 
any  guests  it  might  chance  to  bring  ;  and  although 
it  was  rather  early  for  tourists,  a  look  of  un 
mistakable  disappointment  stole  over  their  ex 
pectant  countenances,  when  they  perceived  that  it 
contained  but  one  occupant.  Nor  was  this  disap 
pointment  in  the  slightest  degree  mitigated  when, 
in  reply  to  their  offers  of  supper  and  their  some- 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  211 

what  voluble  enumeration  of  the  attractions  of 
their  bill  of  fare,  the  young  man  said  impatiently, 
' '  I  want  nothing  but  a  room  and  lights  " — turning, 
however,  as  he  was  escorted  to  his  apartment,  to 
order  a  cup  of  strong  coffee  sent  up  immediately. 

' '  He  looks  like  a  herr ;  but  he  hasn't  a  civil 
tongue  in  his  head  for  all  that !  "  said  the  frau,  re 
senting  the  slight  to  her  wheaten  loaf,  her  marvel 
lous  sausages,  and  the  other  dainties  for  which  she 
was  famous. 

"And  he  would  have  been  all  the  better  for  a 
glass  of  beer,  not  to  speak  of  the  few  groschen  it 
would  have  put  in  my  pocket ;  for  these  Ameri 
cans  pay  for  what  they  get  with  a  free  hand, 
which  is  more  than  can  be  said  of  some  I  know  ! " 
and  my  host  looked  meaningly  at  a  luckless  indiv 
idual  in  the  band  of  village  loungers  who  made 
his  tavern  their  nightly  resort. 

"American  !  "  exclaimed  the  individual  singled 
out,  nowise  disconcerted  so  long  as  he  could  ob 
tain  credit  for  his  zwei  glasses  as  usual.  "How 
could  you  tell  that  he  was  American,  when  he 
spoke  German  as  well  as  you  or  I  can  ? " 

"  As  if  I  did  not  know  an  American !  "  answered 
mine  host  contemptuously.  "I've  seen  too  many 
of  'em.  A  German  would  surely  have  called  for 


212  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

the  "beer  ;  an  Englishman  always  wants  his  tea  ; 
"but  an  American  must  have  his  coffee,  and  it 
must  "be  coffee  as  "black  as  a  priest' s  gown  and 
strong  as  the  giant  in  the  legend  of  Drachenfels." 

"Well,  whatever  he  may  "be,  if  he's  as  sparing 
of  his  purse  as  he  is  of  himself  he  certainly  will 
not  make  your  fortune,"  said  a  third  party  sneer- 
ingly,  evidently  considering  himself  in  some  way 
defrauded  of  his  just  rights  in  being  deprived  of 
a  bit  of  gossip  with  a  stranger  fresh  from  the  outer 
world. 

In  the  meantime  the  traveller,  unconscious  of, 
and  certainly  indifferent  to,  these  comments,  had 
no  sooner  despatched  the  coffee  (which,  by  the 
way,  by  no  means  realized  mine  host's  description 
of  its  requirements),  than,  bolting  his  door,  he 
threw  himself  wearily  into  what  was  obviously 
intended  to  do  duty  as  an  easy-chair,  and  was  soon 
deep  in  thought.  His  face  is  thinner  and  more 
worn  than  we  are  wont  to  see  it,  and  there  is  an 
anxious,  haggard  look  about  his  eyes  ;  but  we 
have  no  difficulty  in  recognizing  our  friend  "Ken 
neth  ;  "  and  despite  the  lines  of  care  around  his 
mouth,  there  is  an  expression  of  quiet  power  and 
lofty  resignation  in  his  countenance  that  makes  him 
handsomer  and  nobler  than  ever  ;  in  a  word,  he 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  213 

looks  like  one  who  has  learned  "  to  suffer  and  "be 
strong."  But  his  reflections  were  evidently  pain 
ful  ;  and  rising  at  last,  as  if  his  emotions  could  no 
longer  be  controlled,  he  paced  up  and  down  the 
narrow  apartment  nervously  and  restlessly,  ex 
claiming  aloud : 

"How  vividly  the  past  comes  up  before  me  on 
returning  to  this  miserable  town  !  Would  to  God 
that  I  had  never  entered  it !  How  much  misery 
would  have  been  spared  me  and  the  poor  unfor 
tunate  girl,  of  whom  no  one  can  tell  whether  she 
may  be  living  or  dead.  Hilda !  poor  Hilda  !  I 
can  see  you  now  with  your  soft  golden  tresses  and 
trusting  blue  eyes,  lovely  with  an  innocent  beauty 
that  was  all  your  own.  As  a  sister,  as  a  friend,  I 
could  have  loved  you  well ;  but  as  a  wife  ! — -Oh 
Heaven!  that  this  should  be,  when  there  is  an 
other,  whose  name  I  must  not,  dare  not  breath,  a 
single  hair  of  whose  head  is  dearer  to  me  (God 
help  me  ! )  than  your  whole  being.  Oh,  this  love  ! 
—this  deep,  surging,  overwhelming,  passionate 
love  !  But  I  will  try  to  smother  it ;  and  though  it 
was  a  cruel  joke  that  made  you  my  wife,  I  will 
seek  everywhere  until  I  find  you  ;  and  then — ah 
then  !  remembering  that  no  less  than  myself  you 
were  a  victim,  I  will  so  devote  myself  to  you,  that 


214:  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

you  shall  never  know  my  whole  heart  was  given 
to  another.  The  pastor,  too,  who  wrote  to  me — he 
seems  to  think  that  you  are  but  hiding  somewhere, 
thinking  in  your  innocence  that  thus  you  will 
leave  me  free  !  Free  ! — ah  I  shall  be  free  no  more ! 
That  was  a  manly,  straightforward  letter,  and  he 
evidently  trusted  me  too,  although  circumstances 
seemed  to  point  me  out  a  villain.  He  must  be  a 
man  of  discrimination,  and  perhaps  I  will  feel  bet 
ter  after  I  have  talked  with  him.  I  wonder  if  he 
would  see  me  to-night.  He  surely  cannot  refuse 
me  when  I  have  come  so-far  ;  and,"  glancing  at 
his  watch,  "it  is  not  too  late  even  for  this  primi 
tive  town.  At  all  events  I  can  but  try;"  and 
waiting  only  to  brush  the  dust  from  his  coat,  he 
took  up  his  hat  and  descended  to  the  public-room 
below,  astonishing  the  host  by  asking  him  if  he 
could  direct  him  to  the  residence  of  the  Herr  Pas 
tor. 

Receiving  in  reply  directions  that  certainly 
were  not  lacking  in  multiplicity,  he  passed  out 
into  the  street,  leaving  the  good  frau,  at  least, 
convinced  that  he  had  some  secret  sin  on  his 
conscience,  else,  reasoned  she,  "  Why  should  he 
refuse  good,  wholesome  food,  and,  after  shutting 
himself  up  and  tramping  the  floor  like  an  un- 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  215 

easy  spirit,  go  out  into  the  night  in  search  of  the 
pastor?" 

Unaware  of  these  not  very  flattering  imputations 
on  his  character,  Kenneth  walked  rapidly  down 
the  street,  and  soon  found  himself  at  the  residence 
of  the  pastor,  who  opened  the  door  in  response  to 
his  knock ;  and  even  before  he  had  made  himself 
known,  cordially  invited  him  to  enter.  As  soon 
as  he  had  recalled  himself  to  the  good  man' s  recol 
lection,  Kenneth  said : 

"I  have  come  to  Europe,  in  answer  to  your 
summons,  on  a  very  painful  errand  ;  and  as  I  am 
at  a  loss  where  to  "be  begin  or  in  what  manner  to 
proceed,  I  hope  you  will  permit  me  to  apply  to 
you  for  counsel  and  assistance." 

"  All  the  assistance  that  I  can  give  is  certainly 
at  your  service,"  said  the  pastor  ;  "but,"  and  the 
courtesy  of  his  tone  was  slightly  tinged  with  se 
verity,  "  pardon  me  if  I  say  that  you  would  have 
prevented  a  world  of  trouble  by  coming  sooner." 

"That  is,  alas!  too  true,"  acknowledged  Ken 
neth,  "and  I  do  not  wonder  at  the  reproach  your 
words  imply  ;  but  I  owe  it  to  myself  to  convince 
you  that  it  is  unmerited ;  for  until  the  receipt  of 
your  letter  I  was  entirely  unaware  of  the  unhappy 
tie  that  binds  me.  When  I  consented  to  enact  the 


216  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

"bridegroom  in  that  fatal  charade,  it  was  in  utter 
ignorance  of  the  peculiar  laws  of  this  section  of  the 
country,  and  of  the  character  of  the  one  who  per 
sonated  the  minister.  I  certainly  never  imagined 
him  to  be  a  magistrate  ;  and  indeed,  in  my  bitter 
hours  of  reflection  it  has  seemed  to  me  that  there 
must  have  been  some  malice  at  work  in  the  affair  ; 
though  I  can  think  of  no  one  likely  to  do  me  so 
great  a  wrong.  As  you  know,  arrangements  had 
been  made  by  myself  and  my  companions  to  leave 
at  the  close  of  the  fete  and  we  did  so  ;  and  so  little 
impression  did  the  occurrence  make  upon  me  that  it 
passed  entirely  out  of  my  mind,  until,  on  one  oc 
casion,  when  some  friends  were  discussing  the 
subject  of  marriage,  one  of  them  remarked  that  in 
some  parts  of  Germany  it  could  be  contracted 
with  the  same  facility  as  in  Scotland,  and  without 
the  aid  of  a  minister,  adding  that  thus  an  idle 
pastime  had  often  proved  a  terrible  reality.  At 
these  words  the  thought  of  my  part  in  the  charade 
flashed  across  me  with  a  sudden  sickening  dread  ; 
but  reflecting  that  it  was  unreasonable  on  such 
slight  grounds  to  suppose  myself  the  victim  of  a 
calamity  of  which  one  seldom  hears  outside  the 
pages  of  a  romance,  it  vanished,  and  I  never 
thought  of  it  again,  till  your  letter  came  upon  me 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  217 

like  a  thunderbolt.  I  will  not  dwell  upon  the  an 
guish  it  caused  me.  I  saw  that  it  had  "been  long 
delayed :  in  fact,  months  had  already  elapsed  since 
it  was  written.  My  duty  was  clear,  and  you  can 
answer  whether  I  hesitated,  when  I  tell  you  that 
it  reached  me  one  night,  and  the  next  found  me  on 
the  ocean,  hurrying  to  meet  a  destiny  which  I 
would  certainly  never  have  marked  out  for  my 
self." 

"I  believe  you,  young  man,"  responded  the 
pastor  warmly,  extending  his  hand  to  clasp  that 
of  Kenneth,  as  if  with  involuntary  respect  and 
sympathy.  "The  very  fact  of  your  being  here 
to-night  is  sufficient  evidence  that  you  never  in 
tended  to  deny  a  claim  which  in  your  country, 
and  at  such  a  distance,  you  might  have  so  easily 
repudiated,  and  I  would  be  doing  violence  to  my 
feelings  did  I  not  tell  you  that  I  reverence  the  no 
bility  of  soul  which  is  thus  ready  to  sacrifice  all 
that  life  holds  dear  at  the  call  of  duty.  But  what 
do  you  propose  to  do,  my  friend  ?" 

"  To  seek  for  Hilda  till  I  find  her  ;  for  I  do  not 
believe  that  she  is  dead,"  said  Kenneth  firmly ; 
adding  :  "  but  it  is  so  long  since  your  letter  was 
written  :  perhaps  you  have  had  tidings  ? " 

' '  No,  not  a  word !    My  second  letter  to  you — the 
10 


21 8  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

only  one  that  yon  received — was  written  immedi 
ately  after  her  disappearance,  and  since  that  time* 
nothing  has  been  heard  or  seen  of  the  poor  child. 
True,  some  fishermen,  a  week  or  two  later,  drew 
from  the  river  a  bonnet  and  shawl,  which  were 
identified  as  hers,  and  there  is  not  a  person  except 
myself  in  the  village  who  does  not  think  that,  in 
her  misery,  she  drowned  herself.  Even  her.mother 
accepted  this  solution  of  the  difficulty  almost 
gladly,  I  fear ;  for  she  soon  after  married  Fritz 
Anschen,  the  brewer,  and  her  husband  not  six 
months  in  his  grave,"  said  the  pastor  gloomily. 

"Poor  Hilda!"  exclaimed  Kenneth;  "but 
where  can  she  have  gone  ?  Can  you  give  me  no 
clue,  however  slight  ?  Had  she  no  relatives  ;  no 
friends  ? " 

"  Not  a  relative  on  her  mother's  side  ;  of  this  I 
am  positively  certain  ;  and  I  never  heard  of  any  on 
her  father's,  though  he  was  not  a  native  of  this 
hamlet,  and  he  did  not  talk  much  of  his  family  af 
fairs,  even  to  me  ;  nor  can  I  think  of  any  friend 
with  whom  she  might  have  taken  refuge.  Poor 
child  !  she  seems  as  completely  lost  as  if  the  earth 
had  swallowed  her." 

Kenneth  then  confided  to  him  a  plan  that  he 
had  formed  of  visiting  all  the  neighboring  hamlets. 


.EBON  AND  GOLD.  219 

But  the  good  man  dissuaded  him  from  this,  as  he 
himself  had  instituted  thorough  inquiries  in  these 
localities,  advising  him  to  go  at  once  to  Hamburg, 
and  there  await  further  developments. 

"For,"  said  he,  "although  I  cannot  conceive 
how  Hilda  could  have  reached  there,  alone  and 
•  unaided,  there  is  no  place  like  a  large  city  for  con 
cealing  one' s  identity j  and  she  could  obtain  em 
ployment  more  easily  than  in  an  obscure  hamlet. 
Besides,"  added  he,  "  you  could  there  employ  de 
tectives,  who  might  prosecute  investigations  in  the 
smaller  towns  if  necessary,  while  you  would  be 
always  on  the  spot  if  anything  should  transpire." 

And  before  they  parted  it  was  agreed  that  Ken 
neth  should  set  out  for  Hamburg  at  once,  which 
he  accordingly  did  the  next  morning,  leaving  mine 
host  and  his  gossiping  customers  equally  cha 
grined  and  perplexed  at  his  mysterious  movements, 
which  afforded  them  a  theme  for  speculation  and 
conversation  for  many  a  day. 

Arrived  at  his  destination,  he  threw  himself  into 
his  allotted  task  with  an  energy  that  should  have 
insured  success.  He  spared  neither  trouble  nor 
expense,  engaging  the  services  of  the  detective 
'  corps,  and  himself  haunted  the  gardens,  the  mar 
kets,  and  other  public  thoroughfares  so  persist- 


220  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

ently,  that  his  pale,  quiet  face  would  have  "been 
missed  if  he  had  absented  himself.  But  the  days 
lapsed  into  weeks,  and  the  weeks  into  months,  till 
summer  began  to  wane  without  result.  True,  in 
this  time  his  employees  had  come  to  him  with 
many  startling  discoveries,  which  had  proved  to 
be  nothing,  and  more  than  once  the  chance  resem 
blance  of  a  passing  face  had  lured  him  into  a  long 
and  fruitless  walk.  But  he  seemed  as  far  from  his 
object  as  ever,  when  one  morning,  as  he  was  pass 
ing  along  an  obscure  street,  whither  his  aimless 
wanderings  had  led  him,  his  attention  was  at 
tracted  by  a  piece  of  carving  displayed  with  a  lot 
of  miscellaneous  articles  in  the  window  of  a  small 
shop  near  by.  There  was  nothing  remarkable 
about  it,  for  the  subject  was  too  simple  to  admit 
of  much  artistic  skill ;  but  it  reminded  him 
strangely  of  Drachenfels,  and  on  reflection  he  re 
membered  of  having  seen  similar  articles  wrought 
by  Herr  Waldemar,  and  it  also  occurred  to  him 
that  Hilda  had  been  taught  the  use  of  the  tools  by 
her  father.  Entering  the  shop  and  inquiring  if 
the  object  of  his  curiosity  was  for  sale,  he  offered 
a  price  for  it  that  made  the  honest  shop- woman 
open  her  eyes,  and  she  was  more  than  ready  to 
oblige  him  when  he  asked  her  if  she  could  tell 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  221 

him  how  she  came  by  it.  It  was,  she  said,  the 
work  of  a  young  girl  who  had  come  to  her  shop  a 
few  weeks  before  with  a  lot  of  these  carvings  to 
sell.  Not  being  in  her  line,  she  had  bought  but 
one  of  them,  out  of  compassion  for  the  poor  thing, 
who  seemed  in  want ;  but  if  the  Herr  liked  them, 
she  had  taken  the  address,  and  could  easily  order 
more.  Kenneth  immediately  gave  her  a  liberal 
order,  and  promising  to  pay  her  well  for  them, 
asked  her  if  she  would  be  so  kind  as  to  give  him 
the  address.  Anxious  to  oblige  so  profitable  a 
customer,  and  thinking,  as  she  afterwards  said, 
that  so  grand  a  gentleman  could  mean  no  harm  to 
a  poor  maiden,  she  drew  from  a  lot  of  well- 
thumbed  papers  a  scrap  on  which  was  written 
"Frau  Milller,  6  Volksgang,"  and  handed  it  to 
Kenneth,  saying,  as  she  did  so  : 

"  Here  it  is ;  but  I  am  afraid  you  will  find  it  a 
poor  place." 

Kenneth  thanked  her  and  withdrew  ;  and  hav 
ing  by  this  time  learned  to  know  the  city  by 
heart,  turned  his  steps  at  once  to  the  locality  des 
ignated.  It  was  indeed  a  wretched  place,  such  a 
one  as  only  the  miserably  poor  would  think  of 
turning  to  for  a  shelter  ;  even  they  would  scarcely 
call  it  a  home.  Tall,  crazy  tenements  with  long, 


222  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

ruinous  porches  running  around  each  story,  and 
serving  only  to  add  to  the  general  dilapidation, 
and  shutterless  windows,  many  of  them  entirely 
innocent  of  glass,  were  crowded  together,  their 
gaunt  shadows  entirely  excluding  the  free  air  and 
blessed  sunshine  :  and  as  Kenneth  knocked  hesitat 
ingly  at  the  door  of  No.  6,  he  shuddered  at  the 
thought  of  finding  Hilda  in  such  a  squalid  abode. 
Receiving,  in  answer  to  his  inquiries  for  Frau 
Miiller,  directions  to  a  room  nearly  at  the  top  of 
the  house,  he  mounted  the  well-worn  staircase 
and  presented  himself  at  the  door  indicated. 
"  Come  in,"  said  a  feeble  voice  in  response  to  his 
summons;  and  entering,  Kenneth  found  himself 
in  the  presence  of  a  woman  past  the  prime  of  life, 
whose  wasted  form  and  sunken  features  told 
plainly  that  disease  as  well  as  poverty  had 
claimed  her  for  its  victim.  She  started  upon  see 
ing  him,  but  with  a  courtesy  little  in  keeping  with 
her  surroundings,  begged  him  to  be  seated,  and 
Kenneth  at  once  explained  how  the  carving  hav 
ing  reminded  him  of  a  dear  lost  friend  of  whom 
he  was  in  search,  he  had  procured  her  address  in 
hopes  that  in  discovering  the  name  of  the  carver, 
he  might  at  least  obtain  some  clue  to  the  missing 
one,  whose  name  and  the  place  of  whose  nativity 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  223 

he  also  gave.  The  frau  replied  that  as  she  had 
never  been  in  Drachenfels,  and  as  the  carver  in 
question  was  her  daughter,  Bertha  Miiller,  she 
could  of  course  give  him  no  information,  and  she 
evidently  considered  these  facts  so  conclusive  a 
termination  of  the  interview,  as  to  leave  Kenneth 
no  alternative  "but  so  to  accept  them.  He  would 
fain  have  left  a  small  sum  of  money  behind  him, 
but  something  in  Frau  Miiller' s  manner  forbade  the 
liberty ;  and  indeed,  as  if  interpreting  his  rapid 
glance  around  the  room,  she  hastened  to  say  that 
she  hoped  he  did  not  imagine  her  and  her  daughter 
to  be  objects  of  charity,  as,  her  husband  having 
been  a  forest-ranger,  she  received  a  small  sum  from 
the  government  sufficient  to  keep  them  from  want. 
Kenneth  gave  a  long  sigh  of  relief  when,  leav 
ing  the  Volksgang  behind  him,  he  found  himself 
once  more  in  the  broad  street,  although  his  case 
had  never  yet  appeared  so  hopeless.  This  mo 
notonous  life  and  constant  pursuit  of  a  phantom  that 
seemed  ever  to  elude  his  grasp  were  very  wearing ; 
and  as  he  sat  over  his  cigar  that  night,  he  was  revolv 
ing  in  his  mind  the  necessity  of  a  change,  when  the 
waiter  announced  a  visitor,  who  wished  to  see 
him  on  important  business — and  the  chief  detec 
tive  entered  his  room. 


224  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

"At  last  luring  tidings,"  said  lie  gravely,  as 
soon  as  they,  were  alone  ;  "but  the  Herr  must  sum 
mon  all  his  fortitude  to  meet  them  ;  for  although 
I  have  not  found  the  fraulein,  I  have  found  her 
grave." 

"  What  ? — how  ? — where  ?"  exclaimed  Kenneth, 
starting  up,  and  then  sinking  back  in  his  chair, 
overcome  with  the  varied  tide  of  emotion. 

"Pray  control  yourself!"  said  the  detective, 
who  seemed  possessed  of  more  sensibility  than 
is  usually  accredited  to  his  class.  "  I  know  she 
must  have  been  very  dear  to  you,  or  you  would 
long  ago  have  given  up  the  search,  and  I  wish 
we  could  have  restored  her  to  you.  But  be  calm  ; 
and  when  I  have  told  you  all,  I  think  you  can 
have  no  doubt  that  the  grave  which  I  have  visited 
is  really  hers." 

' '  The  grave  !  Poor  little  Hilda  ! ' '  said  Kenneth ; 
and  then  composing  himself  with  a  great  effort,  he 
motioned  to  his  companion  to  proceed. 

"I  was  called  last  week,"  said  the  latter,  "to 
a  little  village  not  many  leagues  distant  from  here, 
the  nature  of  my  business  requiring  an  inspection 
of  the  records  of  the  parish  church.  Being  some 
what  in  advance  of  my  appointment,  I  concluded 
to  take  a  stroll  through  the  graveyard  while  waiting 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  225 

for  the  sexton.  Wandering,  I  nmst  confess,  rather 
carelessly  among  the  graves,  my  attention  was  ar 
rested  by  a  head-stone — or  rather  a  cross — bear 
ing  the  inscription,  '  Hilda  Waldemar,  aged  eigh 
teen  ' — which  you  may  imagine  at  once  excited  my 
interest  and  curiosity  ;  and  as  soon  as  I  had  trans 
acted  my  business,  I  sought  the  Herr  Pastor,  who, 
in  answer  to  my  inquiries,  exclaimed  : 

"'  Hilda  "Waldemar  !  Oh  yes!  I  remember  ! 
That  was  a  sad  death !  A  poor  young  girl  who  came 
here  with  her  aunt  to  try  the  waters  of  a  neighbor 
ing  Spa.  Her  aunt  had  a  daughter  about  her  own 
age,  and  they  nursed  her  with  the  greatest  devotion, 
but  in  vain.  The  physicians  pronounced  her  dis 
ease  a  rapid  decline  ;  but  some  say  she  died  of  a 
broken  heart,  and  I  don't  know  but  they  were 
right ;  for  it  was  whispered  that  the  poor  thing, 
deserted  by  her  lover,  had  been  compelled  by  the 
harshness  of  her  mother  to  fly  from  her  home.  The 
Frau  Miiller  was  so  reserved,  that  I  never  ques 
tioned  her  about  her  affairs  ;  but  she  must  have 
been  a  good  woman,  for,  as  she  herself  told  me, 
the  girl  was  not  her  own,  but  the  niece  of  her  first 
husband  ;  and  yet  a  mother  could  not  have  been 
more  devoted.  This,  and  the  fact  that  she  was  a 

native  of  Drachenfels,  comprised  all  the  informa- 
10* 


226  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

tion  she  ever  volunteered ;  the  rest  Tbeing  mere 
rumors,  which,  as  she  left  here  with  her  daughter 
immedkitely  after  the  burial,  to  go  we  knew  not 
where,  she  never  had  an  opportunity  either  to 
confirm  or  deny.' ' 

Kenneth  sat  some  time  in  silence  after  the  detec 
tive  ceased  speaking,  and  then  he  said  slowly : 
"You  are  right!  This  can  be  no  other  than  the 
Hilda  we  have  sought  .so  long  and  so  fruitlessly. 
I  go  to-morrow  to  visit  her  grave ;  and  then,  as  there 
is  no  longer  anything  to  keep  me  here,  I  will 
at  once  return  to  my  native  land.  But  in  part 
ing,  let  me  thank  you  for  the  sympathy  you 
have  shown  me  throughout  this  investigation  ; 
while  my  banker  will  honor  the  draft  I  have 
already  given  you  in  acknowledgment  of  your 
services.' ' 

A  sleepless  night  followed  this  exciting  inter 
view  ;  but  the  first  rays  of  morning  found  Kenneth 
ready  for  his  journey.  He  found  all  as  had  been 
represented  ;  and  kneeling  beside  the  narrow  grave 
where  the  daisies  were  already  springing  above 
the  golden  head,  he  felt  that  this  painful  chapter 
of  his  life  was  closed  forever.  A  week  later  he 
was  on  a  vessel,  homeward  bound,  blue  waves 
dancing  around  him  and  blue  skies  spreading 


EBON  AND   GOLD. 


227 


lovingly  over  Mm  ;  but  between  him  and  the  vista 
of  the  future,  like  a  tear  mist,  arose  the  memory  of 
Hilda,  softening  and  hallowing,  though  not  veil 
ing,  its  brightness. 


CHAPTEE  XVII. 

"  Into  the  depths  of  thy  dreamy  eyes  peering, 
Watching  thy  lips  for  some  shadowy  sign, 
Trembling  in  doubt  betwixt  hoping  and  fearing, 
Stands  my  poor  soul  and  appeals  unto  thine. " 


"  All  paths  which  the  lady  may  travel, 
My  blessings  shall  conquer,  that  so 
No  roughness  may  bruise  her,  no  waters 

Be  bitter  or  brackish  with  woe, 
While  the  blue  heavens  brood  softly  above  her, 
And  the  grass  groweth  greenly  below." 

ANON. 


,  Miss  Marcia,  can  you  not  learn  to  love 
me?  May  I  not  hope,  that  even  as  sparks 
elicit  sparks,  as  flame  engenders  flame,  the 
most  entire  and  unselfish  devotion  will  at  last  call 
forth  in  you  emotions  kindred  to  my  own  ?  You 
are  so  young — I  have  been  premature  !  The  voice 
of  passion  has  not  yet  made  itself  heard  in  the 
pure  depths  of  your  unawakened  soul,  and  in  my 
eagerness  I  have  swept  its  chords  too  rudely  !  " 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  229 

"No !  no !  Mr.  MacKensie !  "  said  Marcia  in  a 
trembling  voice,  while  her  color  came  and  went 
painfully.  "  Believe  me,  I  am  more  than  sensible 
of  the  honor  you  would  do  me,  and  it  grieves  me, — 
oh  !  how  it  grieves  me,  to  be  forced  to  decline  it !" 

"  Then  why  decline  it  ?  Hear  me,  Marcia !  I  of 
fer  you  no  boyish  passion,  fervid  and  glowing  it 
may  be  as  the  noonday  sun,  but  as  fleeting ;  it  has 
come  to  me  at  an  age  when,  having  mingled  with 
the  world  and  learned  that  life  is  real  and  earn 
est,  I  am  not  likely  to  mistake  an  ignis  fatuus 
for  the  beacon -light  which  God  himself  has  sent 
to  cheer  our  earthly  pilgrimage.  It  has  not  been 
the  growth  of  days  or  weeks,  but  of  months,  dur 
ing  which  I -have  marked  the  budding  graces  of 
an  intellect  meet  to  cope  with  the  proudest ;  the 
unfoldings  of  a  soul  pure  and  spotless  as  the  petals 
of  the  lily  ;  the  glorious  dawning  of  a  womanhood 
so  perfect  that  I  have  trembled  lest  some  one 
should  discover  my  hidden  pearl,  my  secret  treas-' 
ure,  ere  I  had  dared  to  claim  it.  Men  call  me 
cold  and  proud,  and  perhaps  I  am  to  others,  but 
my  snows  turn  to  fire  before  you ;  my  pride  is 
all  forgotten  at  your  feet,  and  you  cannot  know 
what  I  have  suffered  this  winter  when  I  have  seen 
you,  the  magnet  of  every  circle,  the  attraction  of 


230  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

every  feast,  in  the  fear  that  perchance  some 
smoother  tongue  and  fairer  face  might  woo  and 
win  you.  But,  Marcia,  it  is  the  rugged  rock  that 
withstands  the  tempest  and  the  "blast, — come  to 
me,  and  let  my  great  love  be  your  shield  from  the 
storms  of  life,  its  dangers  and  its  cares  ! " 

"  Oh  no !  no  !  no ! "  repeated  Marcia,  and  this 
time  her  voice  was  almost  a  wail.  "  Would  that  I 
could,  but  I  cannot — I  may  not !  " 

"  But,"  said  her  companion  gently,  while  a 
shadow  stole  over  his  honest,  manly  face,  "why,  if 
you  would,  can  you  not  give  yourself  to  me, 
Marcia? " 

"Because — because — "  gasped  Marcia,  cover 
ing  her  face  with  her  hands,  while  the  crimson  tide 
rushed  even  to  her  very  temples — "  O  Mr.  Mac- 
Kensie,  it  'is  the  misery  of  my  life !  "but  I  love 
another ! " 

"You  —  love — another!"  exclaimed  he,  each 
word  dropping  slowly  and  painfully  from  his  lips. 
"  O  Marcia !  I  did  not  dream  of  this  !  But  why  the 
misery  ?  Surely  you  cannot  have  placed  your 
affections  on  an  unworthy  object,  and  still  less 
can  I  believe  that  one  so  favored  could  be  insen 
sible  to  the  blessing !  " 

"  And  yet  it  is  even  so,"  said  Marcia  brokenly, 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  231 

while  her  head  dropped  lower  than  ever.  "  How 
I  struggled  with  this  love,  how  I  hate  myself  for 
it,  and  what  it  has  cost  -me  to  tell  you  this,  you 
cannot  even  imagine.  But  I  feel  that  I  owe  it  to 
you  to  explain  why  I  am  forced  to  renounce 
what  might  well  be  for  any  woman  a  crown  of 
honor.  Young  as  I  am,  I  know  what  it  is  to  "be 
weary  and  heart-sick — and  can  you  wonder,  then, 
that  I  am  tempted  "by  the  refuge  you  offer  ?  But 
I  cannot,  dare  not  accept  it — it  would  be  false,  not 
only  to  myself,  but  to  you,  who  are  so  more  than 
worthy  of  all  that  the  noblest  heart  can  give  ! ". 

"  Marcia,  you  know  not  how  this  pains  me,  and 
not  more  for  myself  than  you  ;  for  though  I  have 
so  often  pictured  you  the  mistress  of  my  ancestral 
home,  glorifying  and  brightening  it  with  your  pres 
ence,  and  though  your  image  is  so  interwoven 
with  all  my  hopes  and  dreams  and  plans  that  it 
will  be  long  before  I  can  blot  it  from  my  future, 
still,  even  if  you  can  never  be  mine,  no  less  do  I 
wish  for  you  a  life  all  blessings  ;  and  if  word  or 
act  of  mine  can  ever  turn  aside  one  cloud  from 
your  sky,  one  thorn  from  your  path,  you  have  but 
to  command  it.  Let  me  be  your  friend,  if  I  cannot 
be  your  lover ;  but  oh !  promise  me,  if  the  time 
should  ever  come  when  you  can  make  me  some- 


232  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

thing  nearer  and  dearer,  you  will  not  withhold 
from  me  the  precious  knowledge." 

"  My  true  friend  now  and  forever !  "  said  Mar- 
cia,  extending  her  hand  to  him.  "  And  let  me  en 
treat  you  to  forget  that  you  have  ever  sought  to 
be  anything  more  ;  for,  believe  me,  there  is  many 
a  maiden  far  more  worthy  to  bear  the  honor  you 
would  have  conferred  on  me." 

"But  alas!"  said  he,  shaking  his  head  sadly, 
"the  waters  of  Lethe  are  a  fable,  and  forge t- 
fulness  comes  not  for  the  asking;"  and  silently 
pressing  her  hand  he  left  the  room,  which  he 
had  entered  an  hour  before  with  a  heart  beating 
high  with  mingled  hopes  and  fears. 

As  soon  as  she  was  alone,  .leaning  her  head  on 
the  table  before  her,  Marcia  gave  way  to  a 
passionate  fit  of  weeping.  The  pent-up  emotions 
of  months  found  vent  in  the  vehement  flood  ;  and 
neither  caring  nor  trying  to  repress  it,  she  wept 
on  till  the  day  began  to  wane  and  the  flicker 
ing  light  of  the  expiring  embers  cast  fitful 
shadows  through  the  room.  As  Mr.  MacKensie 
had  intimated,  this,  her  first  winter  in  society, 
had  been  a  signal  triumph.  Her  ready  wit  and 
sparkling  repartee  attracted  even  the  most  friv 
olous,  while  the  more  solid  treasures  of  her  richly 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  233 

cultivated  mind,  enchanted  those  who  were  ca 
pable  of  appreciating  them ;  and  reminding  her 
of  their  former  conversation  on  this  subject, 
Lottie  had  remarked  that  although  her  admirers 
were  almost  as  numerous  as  Jennie's,  they  did 
not  seem  to  embarrass  her  in  the  least,  to  which 
Marcia  replied : 

"Ah  !  but  mine  are  only  admirers,  not  adorers, 
and  that  makes  all  the  difference  ! " 

And  this  was  true :  utterly  devoid  of  the  spirit 
of  coquetry,  she  would  not  encourage  feelings 
which  she  could  not  reciprocate  ;  and  more  than 
one  ardent  swain,  who  would  fain  have  con 
stituted  himself  her  victim,  had  been  restrained 
by  her  "Thus  far  shalt  thou  go  and  no  farther," 
so  that  as  yet  no  crushed  hopes  or  broken 
hearts  reared  their  spectral  milestones  on  her 
way.  Deep  in  the  inmost  recesses  of  her  heart 
still  burned  the  love  which  had  come  to  her 
so  unbidden.  Yainly  she  tried  to  smother  it : 
Phosnix-like  it  would  still  rise  from  its  ashes ; 
and  often  when  her  smiles  were  the  brightest, 
and  the  spirit  o*f  revelry  was  the  wildest, 'her 
thoughts  were  far  away  across  the  trackless 
ocean  following  the  lonely  exile  in  his  distant 
wanderings ;  and  with  the  foam  still  beading  the 


234:  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

glass,  the  waters  of  her  life's  Marah  would  rise 
mockingly  to  her  lips.  But  with  a  resolution 
uncommon -in  one  so  young  she  fought  down  all 
tender  recollections,  not  allowing  herself  to  dwell 
on  the  past  or  linger  like  the  banished  Peri  at 
the  jasper  portals  which  she  might  not  enter. 
Only  to-day  she  allowed  herself  to  drift  with  the 
tide  that  was  surging  over  her,  and  the  knowledge 
of  Mr.  MacKensie'  s  love  but  added  a  new  pang  to 
a  sorrow  that  was  keen  enough  already. 

"Oh ! "  said  she,  "if  I  could  but  love  him  as 
lie  deserves  !  He  is  so  good,  so  noble,  so  gener 
ous  !  My  childhood  was  so  loveless,  so  neg 
lected  !  The  world  holds  for  me  so  few  ties  of 
kindred !  Must  this  fatal  passion  put  the  seal  to 
my  isolation,  and  condemn  me  to  a  life  of  cheer 
less  loneliness  ?  I  will  write  to  Mr.  MacKensie ; 
I  will  tell  him  I  have  reconsidered  ;  and  although 
I  cannot  love  him  with  the  ardor  he  deserves, 
I  will,  with  God's  help,  be  to  him  a  true  and 
faithful  wife.  But  no!  can  I  invoke  God's  help 
at  the  very  moment  that  my  lips  are  uttering 
vows  which  my  heart  repudiates?"  And  thus, 
torn  by  conflicting  thoughts,  she  sat  till  she  was 
aroused  by  a  voice  at  her  elbow  exclaiming : 

"Why,  Miss  Marcia!    You  here  in  the  dark? 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  235 

And  the  fire  clean  out,  and  the  room  cqld  as 
Christmas!" 

And  looking  up,  she  saw  James  ;  who,  entering 
the  library  to  arrange  it  for  the  evening,  had  in 
his  surprise  thus  accosted  her  with  the  privileged 
garrulity  of  an  old  domestic. 

"I  am  not  cold,  and  I  like  to  sit  in  the  dark 
sometimes,"  said  she  with  forced  cheerfulness, 
"  but  I  did  not  know  it  was  so  late  ; "  and  rising, 
she  took  refuge  in  her  own  room. 

"Somethin's  wrong!"  muttered  the  old  serv 
ant,  as  he  stooped  to  kindle  the  fire.  "First  I 
sees  Mr.  MacKensie  coming  out  o'  this  very 
room,  looking  so  white  and  cramped-like,  that  I 
a' most  made  free  to. offer  him  a  bit  of  some" at 
I  allers  carries  in  my  pocket  as  is  powerful  good 
for  pains ;  and  then,  two  mortal  hours  after,  who 
does  I  stumble  on  but  Miss  Marcia  a-freezin' 
by  herself  all  in  the  dark  in  this  same  blessed 
room.  'Pears  like  ev'ry thing's  topsy-turvy. 
There' s  Miss  Jennie  done  gone  married  that  black- 
lookin'  furrin  gentleman,  when  she'd  a  sight 
better  taken  up  wi'  Mister  Clifford,  who'd 
knowed  her  from  a  baby  ;  and  now  here' s  Miss 
Marcia  been  doin'  something  to  Mister  Mac 
Kensie,  who's  geod  enough  for  the  best  of 


236  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

them,  now  Mister  Kenneth's  gone  across  the  sea. 
The  Lord  be  praised!  I'm  glad  I  got  my v old 
'ooman  afore  people  turned  so  cranky,  or  p'raps 
this  ole  head  'ud  "be  grayer  than  it  is.  It  don't 
do  for  folks  to  be  speering  at  Providence.  But 
I'd  like  monstrous  well  to  know  what  it  all 
means!"  and  shaking  his  head  mysteriously  at 
the  fire,  which  was  again  blazing  brightly  in  the 
grate,  James  lit  the  gas  and  withdrew. 

"  Why,  Marcia  !  how  pale  you  are  ! "  exclaimed 
Lottie ;  as  she  presented  herself  at  the  supper- 
table  that  evening. 

"  Is  that  a  subject  of  remark  ? "  returned  Marcia; 
"  I  thought  that  such  was  my  normal  condition." 

"So  it  is;  an  interesting,  intellectual  pallor, 
with  a  tinge  of  the  Orient,  as  I  heard  one  of  your 
gushing  admirers  remark  the  other  day. ;  but 
nothing  so  rigid  and  uncompromising  as  this." 

"  Really,  my  child,  you  are  looking  badly  ;  I 
hope  you  are  not  sick  ? "  said  her  aunt  anxiously. 

"Oh  no  !  "  said  Marcia,  "I  can  plead  guilty  to 
nothing  worse  than  a  severe  headache,  for  which 
a  cup  of  your  good  coffee  will,  I  am  sure,  prove  a 
panacea." 

"  I  am  afraid  that  you  will  not  be  equal  to  the 
lecture  to-night,"  said  Paul ;  "  and  it  would  be  a 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  237 

pity :  the  papers  are  full  of  it,  and  everybody  pre 
dicts  that  it  will  be  the  intellectual  treat  of  the 
season." 

"The  coffee  is  my  ark  of  refuge,"  said  Marcia  ; 
"but  if  that  prove  ineffectual,  I  must  e'en  try  my 
pillow, — and  leave  Aunt  Lucia  to  make  my  regrets 
to  my  cavalier." 

"And  who  may  be  the  fortunate — or  perhaps  I 
should  say  the  unfortunate — on  this  occasion?" 
inquired  her  cousin. 

"Mr.  Kingsley,"  replied  Marcia.  "And  I  im 
agine  that  a  lecture  with  him  would  be  a  very 
enjoyable  affair." 

"  Walter  Kingsley  !  It  would  indeed  !  And 
he  is  not  a  professed  squire  des  dames,  and  an  invi 
tation  from  him  is  a  rare  compliment.  Half  the 
girls  in  New  York  will  envy  you.  It  will  be  a 
thousand  pities  if  you  cannot  accept.  But  I 
wonder  how  it  is,  cousin  mine,  that  you  are  so 
captivating,  not  only 

"  '  To  the  coxcombs  of  all  ages,' 
But  the  poets  and  the  sages. " 

"  Perhaps  it  is  because  they  do  not  know  me  so 
well  as  you  do,  or  you  would  not  wonder  at  it," 
said  Marcia,  smiling.  "  But  I  am  not  so  irresistible 


238  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

as  you  would  make  out :  Lottie  has  been  far  more 
successful  on  the  '  war-path'  than  I  have  been." 

"Oh  !  that  is  because  I  am  content  with  smaller 
game!"  said  Lottie.  "I  would  never  dare  to 
.'beard  the  lion  in  his  den.' ' 

"Nor  do  I  lay  claim  to  any  extraordinary 
amount  of  courage  ;  but  I  hope  to  be  sufficiently 
Amazonian  to-night  to  overcome  femininity  in  the 
shape  of  a  headache." 

And  either  the  hope  brought  its  own  fruition, 
or  the  coffee  proved  endowed  with  all  the  magic 
due  to  its  Eastern  origin  ;  for  when  Mr.  Kingsley 
called,  he  found  Marcia  ready  to  accompany  him  ; 
and  in  her  keen  enjoyment  of  the  famous  lecturer' s, 
impassioned  eloquence,  she  forgot  for  a  time  all 
her  troubles. 

The  night  was  lovely :  not  too  cold  for  the  season, 
while  the  moon  vied  with  the  stars  in  lending 
brilliancy  to  the  cloudless  sky ;  and  as  they  left 
the  lecture-room,  Lottie  and  Christabel,  who  with 
Fred  and  Paul  made  up  the  party,  proposed  that 
they  should  dismiss  the  carriage  and  walk  home, 
for  the  sake  of  variety.  Marcia  willingly  assent 
ed  ;  but  could  she  have  foreseen  what  was  to 
happen,  she  might  have  hesitated ;  for  in  that 
homeward  walk,  Walter  Kingsley,  whose  works, 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  239 

both  in  poetry  and  prose,  had  already  made  his 
name  a  power  in  the  land,  laid  fame  and  fortune 
at  her  feet,  and  thus  she  was  again  forced  to  wound 
a  noble  heart,  and  cast  from  her  a  brilliant  future. 
These  were  no  insignificant  trials  to  a  sensitive 
nature  like  Marcia's,  and  there  were  moments 
when  she  was  so  overpowered  by  conflicting  emo 
tions,  that  she  felt  as  if  she  could  embrace  any 
destiny  which  might  promise  her  a  refuge  from 
her  own  painful  thoughts.  Meanwhile,  as  the 
days  wore  on,  Mr.  MacKensie  was  still  at  her  side, 
ready  as  ever  with  all  friendly  offices,  yet  never 
obtruding  the  great  love  which  pervaded  his 
whole  being  ;  and  Marcia  learned  to  regard  him 
with  such  esteem  and  admiration,  that  she  began 
to  reason  with  herself  whether  these  feelings  would 
not  in  time  deepen  into  love,  and  whether  she 
might  not  conscientiously  accept  the  hand  which 
even  now  seemed  always  extended  to  shield  and 
protect  her.  And  thus  matters  stood  when  she 
entered  the  drawing-room  one  evening,  equipped 
for  a  conversazione  at  Mrs.  Seldon's — a  highly 
cultivated  lady,  who,  although  in  declining  years, 
had  given  a  series  of  delightful  literary  entertain 
ments  to  the  young  people  during  the  winter. 
"What -is  the  matter,  Lottie?  are  you  not 


24:0  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

going?"  exclaimed  she  in  astonishment,  on  "be 
holding  her  cousin,  book  in  hand,  comfortably 
ensconced  in  a  low  easy-chair,  and  evidently  with 
no  intention  of  leaving  it. 

"No;"  said  Lottie,  "it  occurred  to  me  at  the 
eleventh  hour,  that  my  cold  would  be  the  better 
for  a  little  nursing,  and  I  concluded  to  stay  at 
home  and  attend  to  it.  But  don't  look  so  rueful. 
I  am  only  sufficiently  indisposed  to  lay  claim  to 
the  privileges  without  the  discomforts  of  invalid- 
ism  ;  and  although  Mrs.  Seldon  is  always  charm 
ing,  I  can  assure  you  that  an  evening  at  home  is 
not  without  its  attractions." 

"I  can  well  believe  that,"  answered  Marcia 
with  a  sigh  ;  "it  is  only  I  that  will  be  disconsolate 
without  my  mate." 

"  No  doubt !  We  do,  in  fact,  generally  '  hunt 
in  couples.'  But  for  once  we  will  vary  the 
programme.  You  must  go  to  Mrs.  Seldon' s,  and 
if  you  see  or  hear  anything  remarkable,  *  make  a 
note  of  it?  like  Captain  Cuttle,  for  my  especial 
benefit,  while  I  will  stay  here  and  do  likewise ; 
for,  do  you  know,  I  have  a  presentiment  that  some 
thing  is  going  to  happen  to-night,  but  whether 
to  you  or  to  me,  my  powers  of  divination  are  not 
sufficiently  developed  to  reveal." 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  241 

"That  is  unfortunate,"  said  Marcia,  laughing. 
"  But  does  the  Delphic  oracle  foretell  whether  the 
coming  event  is  to  be  of  a  painful  or  a  pleasurable 
nature  ? " 

"  Rash  girl !  jeer  not  at  fate  ! "  rejoined  Lottie 
with  mock  solemnity.  "Enough  for  you  that  I 
know, 

"  '  By  the  pricking  of  my  thumbs, 
Something  evil  this  way  comes  !  '  " 

"  I  hope,  Miss  Lottie,  that  you  do  not  mean  to 
be  personal,"  said  Mr.  MacKensie,  who  had 
entered  while  she  was  speaking,  and  who  stood 
waiting  to  escort  Marcia. 

"  JSTot  unless  your  conscience  tells  you  to  consider 
me  so,"  retorted  Lottie.  "But  it  is  time  for  you 
and  Marcia  to  be  off,  if  you  do  not  want  to  take 
your  champagne  after  the  foam  has  subsided,  for 
the  wits  and  the  sages  will  have  exhausted  their 
bon-mots  before  you  arrive." 

They  reached  Mrs.  Seldon's,  however,  to  find  the 
evening  at  its  height ;  and  as  Marcia  was  a  great 
favorite  with  the  venerable  hostess,  she  at  once 
advanced  to  bid  her  welcome,  saying,  with  a 
smile : 

I  had  almost  begun  to  fear  that  you  were  going 

to  fail  me." 
11 


24:2  EBON  AND   GOLD, 

Then,  with  an  expression  of  regret  at  Lottie's 
indisposition,  she  stepped  aside  to  give  place  to 
the  gentlemen,  who  were  already  pressing  forward 
to  claim  Miss  Lyle's  attention,  and  Marcia  was 
soon  the  centre  of  an  admiring  throng,  parrying 
wit  with  some  of  the  celebrities  of  the  land,  and 
advancing  opinions  with  an  intelligence,  and  at  the 
same  time  a  womanly  dignity  and  reserve,  that 
constituted  her  own  peculiar  charm.  Mr.  Mac- 
Kensie  stood  near  "by,  his  manly  countenance 
glowing  with  unconscious  pride  and  pleasure,  and 
hope  whispering  in  his  heart ;  for  there  had  been 
an  unwonted  gentleness  in  Marcia' s  manner  of 
late,  that  almost  encouraged  him  to  think  she 
might  yet  learn  to  look  favorably  on  his  suit. 
But  if  the  homely  adage  be  true  that  "  the  darkest 
hour  is  just  before  dawn,"  it  is  equally  true  that 
the  sun  invests  himself  with  the  greatest  glory  at 
the  hour  of  setting ;  and  even  while  Mr.  MacKensie 
was  yielding  to  an  illusion,  which  cast  a  charm 
over  his  whole  existence,  an  event  transpired 
that  dispelled  it  .forever.  He  had  withdrawn 
Marcia  to  a  distant  part  of  the  room,  to  show  her 
a  picture  which  Mrs.  Seldon  had  recently  received 
from  Europe  ;  and  while  he  was  enjoying  her 
delighted  comments,  a  murmur  of  voices,  rising 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  243 

a"bove  the  ordinary  hum  of  conversation,  attracted 
their  attention. 

"  How  came  yon  hither  ?  Did  you  drop  from 
the  skies?  Where  have  you  been  this  age?" 
were  some  of  the  expressions  which  greeted  their 
ears  in  quick  succession  ;  and  with  idle  wonder 
ment  as  to  who  might  be  the  distinguished  arrival, 
Marcia  turned  round  to  see,  and  lo !  standing 
near  the  doorway,  shaking  hands  with  Mrs.  Seldon, 
was  Kenneth :  a  trifle  paler,  perhaps,  and  more 
heavily  bearded  than  when  he  left,  but  still  un 
mistakably  Kenneth  himself  and  no  other,  and 
for  an  instant  everything  turned  dark  before  her, 
and  she  would  have  fallen,  but  for  her  companion. 
Intuitively  he  divined  her  secret.  But  even  in 
that  moment  of  supreme  agony,  thinking  more  of 
her  than  of  himself,  he  drew  her  into  a  neighbor 
ing  music-room  that  chanced  to  be  vacant,  and 
seated  her  on  a  sofa,  till  she  could  have  time  to 
recover. 

"My  friend!  my  true  friend!"  gasped  she, 
when  they  were  alone.  "  I  have  betrayed  myself 
to  you.  But  you  have  spared  me  the  misery  of 
betraying  myself  to  others.  I  have  tried  so  hard — 
I  had  almost  cheated  myself  into  believing  that  I 


244  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

had  forgotten.  But  it  can  never  "be  !  it  can  never 
be!" 

"At  least,"  said  he  graciously,  "it  is  some 
thing  to  know  that  your  love  is  worthy  of  you — 
though  I  now  feel  indeed  that  it  can  never  be. 
But  I  trust  that  God  will  give  me  strength  to 
remain  your  friend,  for,  O  my  lost  darling !  with 
that  passionate  nature  you  have  need  of  one  !  " 

"Bless  you  for  these  words!"  said  Marcia ; 
and  seeing  that  her  distress  only  increased  that  of 
her  companion,  she  made  a  mighty  effort  to  con 
trol  it,  and  succeeded  at  last,  just  as  she  heard 
the  voice  of  her  hostess  in  search  of  her  ;  and  tak 
ing  Mr.  MacKensie'  s  arm,  she  was  greeting  Ken 
neth  Murray  in  a  moment  after,  with  as  much 
composure  as  if  a  volcano  were  not  raging  in 
her  breast. 

"Is  this  the  way  that  old  friends  meet  nowa 
days?"  exclaimed  dear  old  Mrs.  Seldon,  not  more 
than  half  satisfied  at  such  a  courteous  interchange 
of  civilities,  for  her  warm  heart  was  yet  unchilled 
by  the  frost  of  many  winters.  "  Mr.  MacKensie, 
you  must  ensure  me  a  warmer  welcome,  or  I  shall 
certainly  never  make  that  promised  visit  to  your 
home  in  Scotland;"  and  taking  his  arm  quite  as 
a  matter  of  course,  she  walked  away  with  him, 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  245 

though  he  would  fain  have  lingered  to  spare 
Marcia  a  tete-a-tete  which  he  well  knew  could 
not  but  be  a  painful  trial. 

As  soon  as  they  moved  off  Kenneth  said : 

"Miss  Marcia,  I  did  indeed  expect  a  more  cor 
dial  reception.  The  steamer  had  scarcely  landed, 
when,  with  my  usual  impetuosity,  I  betook  myself 
to  my  dear  guardian's  residence,  finding,  of  all 
our  little  circle,  only  himself  and  Aunt  Lucia 
there  to  welcome  me  ;  Lottie,  being  indisposed, 
had  already  retired ;  Paul  was  entirely  too  un 
certain  and  erratic  to  be  safely  followed  up ;  but 
upon  an  intimation  that  you  were  to  be  found  here, 
I  dared  to  presume  on  Mrs  Seldon'  s  friendship, 
and  come  here  to  meet  you,  certainly  anticipat 
ing  something  less  formal  than  *  Good-evening, 
Mr.  Murray  ;  let  me  conglatulate  you  on  your  safe 
return. ' ' 

' '  Indeed ! ' '  said  Marcia.  ' '  My  manner  must  be 
unfortunate  ;  for  I  am  sure,  of  all  your  friends,  no 
one  is  more  rejoiced  at  your  return  than  I  am ; 
but  I  was  never  addicted  to  rhapsodies ;  and  if  I 
mistake  not,  enthusiasm  is  not  one  of  the  qualities 
supposed  to  increase  with  years." 

' '  At  least  I  shall  not  so  deceive  myself  in  the  fu 
ture,"  returned  Kenneth,  with  a  touch  of  her  own 


246  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

chilling  constraint ;  and  after  this,  their  conversa 
tion  was  limited  to  the  veriest  commonplaces,  and 
it  was  a  relief  to  "both  when  some  one  came  up  to 
claim  a  word  with  Miss  Lyle. 

Lottie  was  still  awake  when  Marcia  came  home 
that  night,  and  called  to  her  as  she  passed  her 
d.oor.  The  two  girls  did  not,  as  formerly,  occupy 
the  same  apartment,  but  their  bedrooms  adjoined, 
and  a  confidential  chat,  in  dressing-gown  and 
slippers,  by  one  cosey  fireside  or  the  other,  was 
considered  by  both  an  indispensable  nightly  cere 
mony. 

"  Have  you  seen  Kenneth  ?"  was  Lottie's  eager 
salutation  on  the  occasion.  ' '  Didn'  1 1  tell  you  that 
something  was  going  to  happen.  Nothing  will  ever 
convince  me  henceforth  that  I  am  not  a  distant  re 
lation  of  the  '  Weird  Sisters.'1  But  what  did  you 
think  of  him  ?  Mamma  says ,  that  although  thinner, 
he  is,  in  her  opinion,  handsomer  than  ever." 

"To  me  he  appeared  much  as  usual,"  said 
Marcia  coolly,  divesting  herself  of  her  wrappings. 

"And  is  that  all?  "  exclaimed  Lottie,  gazing  at 
her  in  astonishment.  ' '  You  speak  as  if  his  absence 
might  be  counted  by  days,  instead  of  months. 
What  is  the  matter  with  you  ? " 

"There  is  nothing  the  matter,  except  that  I  am 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  247  - 

very  tired  and  very  sleepy,  and  I  can't  see  the  nse 
of  entering  into  details  about  a  person  whom  you 
will  see  for  yourself  to-morrow." 

"Well,"  said   Lottie,  with  a  ludicrous  air  of 
mystification,  "  not  all  my  power  as  a  seeress  could 
have  led  me  to  imagine  this.    Faithless  creature, 
I  verily  believe  that  you  have  gone  over  to  the 
'blue  bells  of  Scotland.'" 

"I  am  sure  I  could  not  do  better,"  replied 
Marcia  ;  "  but  in  point  of  fact,  I  have  '•gone  oner ' 
to  nothing ;  though  if  you  do  not  go  bed,  your 
hoarseness  will  furnish  Aunt  Lucia  with  a  text  for 
another  lecture  on  our  nightly  confabs,  in  the 
morning." 

"  I  would  be  willing  to  risk  the  lecture,  if  yon 
were  in  a  less  impracticable  mood,"  said  Lottie. 
"  But  as  it  is,  I  think  I  will  find  my  dreams  more 
entertaining;"  and  exchanging  the  usual  good- 
nights,  she  turned  to  seek  her  pillow. 

Although  Kenneth  had  been  disappointed  in. 
Marcia' s  greeting,  he  certainly  could  find  nothing 
to  complain  of  in  Lottie's,  and  indeed  everybody 
petted,  feted,  and  made  much  of  him,  but  the  one 
whose  slightest  smile  was  more  to  him  than  the 
homage  of  the  whole  world.  He  could  not  guess 
how  wildly  the  proud  heart  beat  beneath  that 


248  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

calm  exterior ;  and  hope  began  to  die  in  his  breast, 
while  in  its  stead  arose  the  conviction  that  Mr. 
MacKensie  had  already  secured  the  prize  which 
he  had  fondly  dreamed  of  winning.  The  high  es 
teem  in  which  he  held  the  young  Scotchman  only 
served  to  strengthen  this  belief ;  and  he  was  sit 
ting  in  his  room  one  evening,  thinking  gloomily 
enough  on  the  thorny  paths  by  which  fate  was 
leading  him,  when  some  one  knocked  at  the  door, 
and  in  walked  his  supposed  rival.  To  noble  nat 
ures  like  Kenneth's  such  petty  feelings  as  jeal 
ousy  are  an  impossibility  ;  and  cordially  bidding 
him  welcome,  he  proceeded  to  enforce  his  words 
by  stirring  the  fire  into  a  bright  blaze,  and,  bach 
elor-like,  offering  him  a  cigar. 

"  Not  to  night,"  said  his  visitor.  "  I  came  to  see 
you  on  a  little  matter  of  business,  and  do  not  feel 
like  smoking  just  now;"  and  then  he  went  on  to 
explain  that  he  was  about  to  return  to  Scotland  ; 
and  as  he  had  heard  Kenneth  admire  his  span  of 
thoroughbreds,  he  had  come  to  see  if  he  would 
like  to  take  them  off  his  hands. 

"About  to  return  to  Scotland?"  repeated  Ken 
neth  ;  and  then,  as  a  sudden  suspicion  Hashed 
across  him:  "How?  When?"  he  added,  in 
visible  agitation. 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  249 

"  If  I  can  so  arrange  matters,  I  will  leave  on  the 
next  trip  of  the  '  Cambria, '  "  replied  Mr.  MacKen- 
sie,  to  whom  this  emotion  was  simply  unaccount 
able. 

"  So  soon  !  "  exclaimed  Kenneth,  suddenly  turn 
ing  pale.  "  Of  course  you  do  not  go  alone? " 

"  I  certainly  expect  to  do  so.  But,  my  friend, 
what  is  the  matter  ?  Are  you  sick  ? " 

"  Yes  ! — no  !  When  do  you  expect  to  return  ? " 
said  Kenneth  incoherently. 

"  It  may  be  years  !  it  may  be  never  !  "  said  his 
companion  gloomily. 

"  Thank  God !  "  ejaculated  Kenneth.  "  Excuse 
me,  Mr.  MacKensie,  but  I  have  imagined  that  you 
were  engaged  to  Marcia  Lyle  ;  and — and — I  have 
loved  her  so  long  and  devotedly,  that  the  thought 
that  you  were  about  to  take  her  from  me,  for  the 
moment  set  me  wild." 

"You  love  her,  then?"  said  Mr.  MacKensie 
slowly. 

"  As  my  life  ! "  returned  Kenneth. 

"  Then  may  you  succeed  where  I  have  failed  ! " 
said  Mr.  MacKensie  solemmly  ;  "for — for  you  are 
worthy  of  her." 

"  But  have  you  indeed  wooed,  and  failed  to  win 

her  ? "  exclaimed  Kenneth. 
11* 


250  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

"Even  so  ! "  replied  Mr.  MacKensie.  "But  the 
fortune  that  frowned  on  me  may  smile  on  you 
— I  bid  you  God-speed  !  I  can  say  no  more  to 
night  ;"  and  wringing  his  hand,  he  hastily  left 
the  room. 

After  Mr.  MacKensie' s  departure,  Kenneth' s  mis 
givings  returned  with  redoubled  force.  True,  his 
worst  fear  was  relieved  ;  but  if  Marcia  was  not  en 
gaged,  what  could  be  the  reason  of  her  unwonted 
coldness  and  reserve  ?  He  had  not  much  whereon 
to  base  a  hope  ;  but  after  a  torturing  conflict  with 
his  doubts  and  fears,  he  at  last  concluded  to  put 
his  fate  to  the  test ;  and  if  the  worst  came,  to  try 
to  bear  it  like  a  man. 

Old  James  shook  his  head  ominously  as  he 
showed  him  into  the  libary  the  next  day,  after 
taking  up  a  card  to  Miss  Marcia,  on  which  was 
pencilled  a  request  that  she  would  grant  him  a 
private  interview  ;  but  his  face  brightened  as  the 
hours  passed  and  he  did  not  corne  out ;  and  when 
the  growing  darkness  at  last  made  it,  as  he 
thought,  an  imperative  necessity  to  light  the  gas, 
the  smiling  faces  and  clasped  hands  that  greeted 
him,  as  he  entered  the  room,  told  him  more  plainly 
than  words  could  have  done,  a  tale  that  delighted 
his  heart,  and  he  confided  to  the  old'  oonian  that 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  251 

"things  wasn't  so  topsy-turvy  as  they  used  to 
was  ! " 

"  My  dear,  is  this  Valentine's  Day  ?"  said  Mr. 
Elmore  to  his  wife,  as  Kenneth  was  pouring  out  to 
them  the  story  of  his  happiness.  "  Because,  if  it 
ain't,  it  ought  to  be,  as  everybody  is  pairing  off. 
"  That  scapegrace  Fred  has  already  had  the  im 
pudence  to  ask  me  for  Lottie ;  Paul  is  only  wait 
ing  to  win  his  spurs,  or,  in  other  words,  his 
diploma,  to  rob  Mr.  Huntington  of  Christabel, 
and  now  here  comes  this  audacious  fellow  to  claim 
our  southern  blossom.  Never  mind,  Ken,  my  boy ; 
there  is  no  one  to  whom  I  would  sooner  give  her ; 
but  if  all  our  fledglings  are  going  to  try  their 
wings  in  this  summary  manner,  we  two  old  birds 
will  soon  be  left  alone  in  the  parent  nest.' 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

"  This  isle  and  house  are  mine,  and  I  have  vowed 
Thee  to  be  lady  of  the  solitude  ; 

And  I  have  fitted  up  some  chambers  there, 
Looking  toward  the  golden  eastern  air, 

And  level  with  the  living  winds,  which  flow 
Like  waves  above  the  living  waves  below. 
I  have  sent  books  and  music  there,  and  all 
Those  instruments  with  which  high  spirits  call 
The  future  from  its  cradle,  and  the  past 
Out  of  its  grave,  and  make  the  present  last 
In  thought  and  joys  which  sleep,  but  cannot  die, 
Folded  within  their  own  eternity." 

PEKCY  BYSSHE  SHELLEY. 


IHE  "Cambria"  sailed,  and  with  it  Mr.  Mac- 
Kensie.  And  even  in  the  midst  of  her  great 
happiness,  Marcia's  heart  was  filled  with 
regret  at  parting  with  one  who  had  shown  himself 
so  noble  and  disinterested. 

"God  bless  you!"  said  she,  with  eyes  filled 
with  tears,  "and  make  you  as  happy  as  you  de 
serve  !" 

"Thank  you  for  those  kindly  words,"  replied  he ; 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  253 

"and  though  happiness,  just  now,  may  seem  to  me 
tut  a  beautiful  myth,  do  not  distress  yourself  with 
the  fancy  that  I  intend  to  sit  idly  down  and  nurse 
my  grief.  No  !  every  man  has  his  appointed  task ; 
"  and  though  love  be  dead,  duty  remains,  and  in 
fulfilling  it  I  shall  no  doubt  find  a  measure  of  con 
tent.  Still  less  must  you  imagine  that  it  would  be 
better  for  me  if  we  had  never  met.  True  love,  even 
though  hopeless,  never  yet  existed  without  elevat 
ing  the  heart  from  which  it  sprang,  and  I  shall 
never  regret  having  known  you.  Nor  shall  I  try 
to  forget  you ;  for  as  a  lone  star  in  a  stormy  sky, 
a  springing  flower  in  an  arid  desert,  the  thought  of 
you  shall  ever  be  the  one  bright,  beautiful  mem 
ory  of  my  vanished  past;"  and  with  a  lingering 
pressure  of  her  hand,  he  departed,  "homeward 
bound"  indeed,  but  leaving  behind  him  that,  with 
out  which  these  mystic  words  were  but  a  mock 
ery. 

With  the  Ides  of  March,  Paul  won  his  long- 
wished-for  diploma,  taking  his  degree  of  LL.D. 
with  the  most  distinguished  honors ;  and  soon 
thereafter  the  family  began  to  talk  of  an  early 
flitting  to  Glen  Eden.  The  only  dissenting  voices 
were  Paul's  and  Fred's ;  and  as  the  embryo  firm 
of  "Elmore  &  Huntington"  could  not  well  exist 


254  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

without  them,  they  did  not  like  the  idea  of  the 
separation.  They  had  determined  to  be  workers 
and  not  drones  in  the  hive  of  Life,  and  for  such 
young  lawyers  they  certainly  had  fair  prospects 
of  success.  Their  industry  and  steady  habits  as 
students  had  impressed  the  older  members  of  the 
profession  in  their  favor ;  the  prestige  of  family 
was  not  without  its  value  ;  and,  more  than  all, 
Clifford  Aubrey  had  delegated  to  them,  as  far  as 
was  in  his  power,  the  not  inconsiderable  practice 
he  himself  had  built  up, — for  his  home  was  now 
far  distant.  His  business  having  detained  him  in 
the  West  much  longer  than  he  had  at  first  in 
tended,  he  had  become  interested  in  this  new  field 
of  labor,  and  had  concluded  to  remain  there. 
What  part  a  shrinking  from  old  associations  had 
had  in  the  formation  of  this  resolution  we  cannot 
say ;  but  at  this  time  he  had  already  been  for 
some  months  established  in  Colorado,  and  was 
making  such  rapid  strides  in  popular  favor,  that 
it  required  no  prophet's  eye  to  discern  that  the 
brow  to  which  love's  flowery  crown  had  been 
denied,  was  destined  to  wear,  at  no  distant  day, 
the  laurel  wreath  of  fame. 

As  for  his  young  successors,  Mr.  Elmore  laugh 
ingly  asserted  that. the  diplomacy  with  which 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  255 

they  manoeuvred  insurmountable  obstacles,  and 
managed  to  delay  the  breaking  up  of  the  house 
hold  till  the  last  of  May,  argued  an  intimacy  with 
the  twists  and  quirks  and  intricacies  of  the  law 
that  would  infallibly  make  them  a  god- send  to  all 
the  rogues  and  double-dealers  in  the  country. 
However,  they  were  at  Glen  Eden  at  last ;  and  to 
Marcia,,  at  least,  the  days  passed  like  a  beautiful 
dream,  from  which  she  would  never  care  to  awake. 
Kenneth  was  all  devotion,  and  seemed  each  day 
to  find  a  new  delight  in  her  society.  He  was  mak 
ing  extensive  repairs  at  the  Ivy,  and  old  Jeffries 
and  the  good  dame  were  almost  beside  themselves 
with  delight. 

The  old  place  to  be  restored  to  even  more  than 
its  pristine  grandeur  ;  their  bairn  about  to  take  a 
wife,  and  that  wife  their  own  beautiful  Miss  Mar- 
cia — it  seemed  too  much  happiness  to  be  real. 
Nothing  was  to  be  modernized,  though  every 
thing  was  to  be  beautified  and  idealized  ;  for  both 
Kenneth  and  Marcia  had  the  soul  to  reverence  and 
appreciate  the  claims  of  age,  and  to  understand 
that  the  reflection  of  the  past  may  shed  a  glory 
even  over  the  brightness  of  the  present.  Only 
some  of  the  cumbrous  old  furniture,  on  which  the 
hand  of  Time  had  been  laid  too  rudely,  was  to 


256  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

give  place  to  the  more  graceful  and  elegant  con 
structions  of  modern  genius  ;  for  Kenneth  did  not 
allow  even  his  love  for  the  antique  to  stand  in  the 
way  of  comfort  and  convenience.  Nor  were  the 
grounds  forgotten  :  the  garden  was  already  blos 
soming  into  more  than  its  wonted  luxuriance  ;  the 
long- disused  conservatories  were  gorgeous  with 
the  floral  treasures  of  every  clime,  and  the  spa 
cious  lawn  was  fast  growing  emerald  and  velvety 
beneath  the  magic  of  sturdy  arms  and  skilful  la 
bor.  And  as  the  days  glided  by,  and  the  reign  of 
the  mechanics  was  nearly  over,  the  huge  boxes 
which  had  been  arriving  by  every  train  began  to 
disgorge  their  contents  ;  rare  pictures  and  exquis 
ite  statuary,  collected  by  Kenneth  in  his  travels, 
emerged  for  the  first  time  from  their  packing-cases ; 
and  the  suite  of  apartments  destined  for  Mar- 
cia's  especial  occupancy,  was  developing  into  a 
miracle  of  loveliness.  The  gems  of  every  collec 
tion  were  reserved  for  these  hallowed  precints: 
nothing  was  forgotten,  from  the  piano,  the  easel, 
the  miniature  bookcase,  with  its  choice  collection 
of  her  favorite  authors,  the  graceful  flower-stand, 
the  exquisite  buhl  writing-desk  and  work-table, 
and  their  dainty  appliances ;  even  to  the  low  easy- 
chair  in  which  Kenneth  loved  to  picture  her — 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  257 

Mm  self  seated  in  the  more  pretentious  one  beside 
it. 

"Ay!  but  it's  a  bounie  nest  that  our  bairn  is 
a-fitting  for  his  birdie,"  said  his  good  nurse,  gaz 
ing  after  Kenneth  as  he  bounded  lightly  down  the 
stairs  after  superintending  the  hanging  of  a  lovely 
Fra  Angelico  in  this  sanctum  sanctorum.  "My 
old  een  never  thocht  to  see  the  like  of  it." 

"  God  send  they  may  live  long  to  enjoy  it,"  said 
her  husband  ;  "  but  may  he  forgie'  me  for  casting 
a  doot  on  His  Providence,  or  bringin'  a  darkness 
on  the  bonny  sunshine  He's  a'  sendin'.  But  a  text, 
o'  His  ain  gude  book  hae'  been  a  rinnin'  i'  my 
head  this  hour  past,  while  I  watched  the  young 
inaister  walkin'  about  so  pleased  like,  and  a'  I 
canna  pit  it  frae  me  !  " 

"Got  upon  you,  David  Jeffries !  The  blessed 
Lord  Himsel'  kens  that  we  hae'  had  enough  o' 
darkness  to  take  the  sunshine  wi'out  a  question  ; 
but  let  us  hear  what's  a  rinnin'  in  your  puir  old 
head." 

"Littleuns,  keep  yersel'  frae  idols,"  said  the 
old  man  solemnly.  "And  if  Maister  Kenneth  beant 
makin'  a  idol  o'  that  sweet  young  miss,  I  never 
see  one  yet! " 

"Who  ever  thocht  you  did  !  when  the  blessed 


258  EBON  AND  OOLD. 

Lord  has  made  seas  to  roll  at  ween  us  an  the  puir 
souls  as  worships  'em  !"  retorted  the  old  dame 
fiercely.  "There's  no  need  o'  borryin'  trouble,— 
it  comes  fast  enough  wi'out  goin'  for  it ;  and  don't 
you  be- a-throwin'  ony  more  o'  your  shadders  i' 
the  way  o'  Maister  Kenneth  and  Miss  Marcia  ! " 
But  somehow  when  she  glanced  again  around  the 
room,  the  sun  had  hidden  behind  a  cloud,  and 
a  dull  gray  shadow  seemed  to  have  stolen  in  una 
wares-  ;  and  though  she  scolded  herself  for  an  old 
simpleton,  and  slammed  the  shutters  angrily,  a 
feeling  of  foreboding  settled  coldly  around  her 
heart,  as  she  locked  the  door  and  betook  herself 
to(her  own  apartments. 

It  had  been  arranged  that  the  triple  marriage 
was  to  take  place  at  Glen  Eden.  The  glorious 
summer  days  were  already  beginning  to  wane,  and 
the  appointed  time  was  now  only  a  few  weeks 
distant.  Recent  news  from  Jennie  gave  reason  to 
hope  that  she  would  be  present  on  the  grand  oc 
casion,  and  this  was  of  course  a  subject  of  great 
rejoicing,  and  Nita  and  Dick  hau  already  begun 
to  speculate  on  the  wonderful  things  she  would 
probably  bring  them.  Jennie's  letters  during  her 
year  of  absence  had  been  long  and  frequent,  and 
filled  with  accounts  of  incidents  and  scenes  of  tra- 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  259 

vel,  so  entertaining,  that  in  reading  them  one 
might  well  fail  to  remark  how  little  she  said  of 
herself  and  her  own  personal  experiences.  The 
last  had  been  from  Switzerland,  which  beautiful 
country,  she  said,  they  had  concluded  to  make 
their  Ararat  for  a  time  at  least.  She  gave  a  most 
interesting  account  of  the  peasantry,  and  the 
beautiful  and  ingenious  toys  'and  kick-knacks 
they  manufactured,  promising  Nita  a  most  com 
plete  addition  to  the  embellishments  of  her  doll- 
house  on  her  return.  "For,"  wrote  she,  "you 
must  know  that  I  have  found  a  protege,  who  has 
undertaken  the  execution  of  this  contract ;  and  as 
her  skill  is  exquisite — and  her  taste  is  equal  to  her 
skill, —  we  may  expect  wonderful  results.  This 
genius  resides  in  a  picturesque  chalet  on  the  side 
of  the  mountain,  with  the  frau  who  furnishes  milk 
for  our  little  menage  ;  and  it  was  in  visiting  this 
chalet,  to  hear  the  famous  Ranz  des  Vaches,  that 
I  had  the  good  fortune  to  encounter  her.  Now 
don't  laugh  and  say  that  Jennie  has  gone  mad 
over  some  rude,  uncultivated  peasant  girl ;  for  I 
can  assure  you  that  my  Bertha  is  no  such  thing. 
On  the  contrary,  she  is  a  spirituelle,  and  refined 
and  beautiful  enough  for  the  heroine  of  a  romance 


260  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

— and  what  is  more,  I  am  convinced  she  has  a 
history." 

"I  am  glad  to  see  that  matrimony  has  not  yet 
exhausted  the  poetical  element  in  Jennie's  nat 
ure,"  was  Lottie's  comment  on  this  portion  of 
her  sister's  letter.  "It  is  encouraging  for  you 
and  me,  Marcia.  I  have  been  laboring  under  the 
impression,  that  when  a  woman  becomes  a  wife 
the  'poetry  is  at  an  end,  and  the  book  must  be  read 
in  prose  to  the  close  of  the  chapter." 

"Now,  Lottie!"  returned  her  cousin,  "you 
know  that  you  have  thought  nothing  of  the  kind ! 
How  could  you,  when  we  have  dear  Aunt  Lucia, 
a  living  poem,  always  before  our  eyes  ! " 

"  As  if  mamma  were  amenable  to  the  rules  that 
govern  ordinary  mortals  ! ' '  exclaimed  Lottie,  at 
which  Aunt  Lucia  called  them  a  pair  of  flatterers  ; 
and  taking  her  letter,  went  to  the  library  to  read 
it  over  with  Mr.  Elmore,  who  had' not  yet  seen  it. 

As  the  time  drew  near  when  Marcia  was  to  be 
come  his  wife,  Kenneth  more  than  once  essayed 
to  tell  her  of  Hilda ;  but  as  if  with  unconscious 
prescience,  each  time  she  interposed  some  obsta 
cle.  At  last  one  evening,  as  they  sat  talking 
over  their  plans  for  the  future,  which  stretched  so 
goldenly  before  them,  he  said,  with  a  sigh : 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  261 

"Marcia,  you  have  never  asked  me  a  question 
about  my  sudden  journey  to  Europe,  and  yet 
there  are  many  circumstances  which  must  appear 
mysterious  and  inexplicable.  Would  you  not 
like  to  hear  about  it  now  ? " 

' '  Not  if  there  is  anything  in  the  recital  that  will 
give  you  pain,"  said  she,  glancing  at  him  and 
quickly  perceiving  the  shadow  that  had  over 
spread  his  face.  "  I  can  trust  you  ;  and  whatever 
there  may  be  that  is  mysterious,  I  am  sure  that 
my  love  is  incapable  of  anything  dishonorable  or 
unworthy.  No  ! "  and  she  put  her  hand  playfully 
on  his  lips  as  he  would  have  spoken,  "not  a 
word  !  Let  these  days  pass  without  a  cloud,  and 
in  after  years  it  will  be  so  sweet  to  look  back  to 
a  period  of  our  lives  that  was  all  sunshine  ! " 

"Then  let  it  be  as  you  will,"  replied  he,  and 
they  alluded  to  the  subject  no  more. 

"A  letter  from  Sister  Jennie  !"  shouted  Dick, 
bursting  into  the  sitting-room  one  bright  afternoon 
a  few  days  afterwards,  and  waving  the  precious 
missive  triumphantly  above  his  head.  "Perhaps 
this  will  tell  a  feller  whether  she  is  going  to  bring 
me  that  St.  Bernard  I  wrote  about — and — but 
wouldn't  it  be  jolly  !  Perhaps  it  will  tell  for  cer 
tain  whether  she  is  coming  to  the  wedding  !  " 


262  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

"  Aint  you  ashamed,  Dick  ? "  said  Nita ;  "you 
talk  as  if  you  cared  more  for  a  dog  than  for  Sister 
Jennie,  and  I  know  I'd  a  heap  rather  have  her 
than  all  the  pretty  things  she' s  promised  me  for 
my  doll-house." 

"Pshaw!"  said  Dick,  "what's  all  the  doll- 
houses  between  here  and  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
by  the  side  of  a  genuine  St.  Bernard?  None  of 
your  shams,  but-  a  real,  live,  shaggy,  knowing  St. 
Bernard,  that'll  dig  you  out  of  an  avalanche,  and 
carry  you  on  his  back  like  a  baby  !  But  I  don't 
see  why  I  can't  care  a  heap  about  a  dog,  and 
about  Sister  Jennie  too — " 

"  Don't  stop  to  talk  about  it,  but  hand  me  the 
letter,"  said  his  mother,  a  little  impatiently. 
"Ah  !  "  she  added,  glancing  at  the  superscription 
as  she  was  about  to  break  the  seal,  ' '  I  am  too  fast ; 
it  is  for  you  this  time !  "  and  she  handed  it  to 
Lottie,  who  at  once  opened  it,  and  began  reading 
it  aloud. 

The  first  piece  of  intelligence  was,  that  as  she 
and  Mr.  Castlemar  had  finally  determined  to  come 
home  to  the  wedding,  they  would  probably  follow 
the  letter  by  the  next  steamer,  and  this  called 
forth  so  many  exclamations  of  delight,  that  it  was 
some  time  before  Lottie  could  proceed.  The  next 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  263 

important  item  was  that  Dick's  epistle  had  been 
received,  and  that  the  St.  Bernard  should,  if  possi 
ble,  be  procured. 

"  And  now,"  she  wrote,  "  I  have  something  to 
tell  you  about  my  protegee,  in  whom  I  grow  more 
and  more  interested  every  day,  frequently  taking 
my  walks  or  rides  in  the  direction  of  the  chalet,  in 
order  that  I  may  spend  an  hour  or  so  with  her. 
The  last  time  that  I  was  there  she  was  not  at  home 
when  I  arrived,  having  gone  for  some  wood,  so  the 
little  peasant  children  told  me,  to  make  the  pretty 
things  for  the  lady  ;  but  knowing  that  she  would 
soon  return,  I  passed  into  her  little  room  and  sat 
down  to  wait  for  her.  An  open  portfolio  was  ly 
ing  on  the  table,  and  I  was  carelessly  turning  over 
the  leaves,  when,  finding  it  contained  some  beauti 
ful  designs  for  carving,  I  at  once  became  interested 
in  examining  them,  growing  more  absorbed  as  I 
discovered  that  they  were  interspersed  with  views 
of  the  Rhine,  all  well  executed,  and  strikingly 
true  to  nature.  But  at  length  I  came  upon  a 
sketch  before  which  I  sat  actually  transfixed  with 
amazement,  and  I  know  you  will  not  wonder  when 
I  tell  you  that  from  the  leaves  of  that  old  portfolio, 
in  that  poor  little  chalet  of  an  obscure  Swiss  ham 
let,  looked  out  the  face  of  Kenneth  Murray.  The 


264:  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

"brow,  the  eyes,  the  firm,  proud  mouth,  even  the 
careless  wave  of  the  hair,  all  were  his  !  I  could  not 
"be  mistaken,  and  I  was  still  gazing  like  one  bereft 
of  sense  and  reason,  when  Bertha  entered  the  room. 
She  advanced  to  meet  me  with  her  usual  smile, 
but  as  I  held  the  sketch  up  before  her,  saying, 
*  Bertha,  I  find  a  picture  of  an  old  friend  here  ; 
how  came  you  by  it  ? '  a  change  passed  over  her 
face  that  was  pitiable  to  behold.  Her  very  lips 
turned  blue  ;  a  spasm  as  of  mortal  pain  contracted 
her  features.  'Air! — water! — I  faint! — "  she 
gasped,  and  fell  senseless  at  my  feet.  Alarmed 
beyond  measure,  I  called  loudly  for  the  frau,  who 
came  running  to  my  assistance,  exclaiming,  as  soon 
as  she  saw  Bertha :  '  Her  heart  again,  poor  frau- 
lein !  the  walk  was  too  much  for  her  ! '  and  while 
we  were  applying  restoratives  she  explained  to  me 
that  the  poor  girl  was  subject  to  such  attacks, 
though  she  had  never  had  one  so  violent  as  this. 
I  did  not  leave  until  she  had  quite  revived,  and 
although,  as  soon  as  she  was  able,  she  reiterated 
the  frau' s  assurance  that  it  was  her  walk  that  had 
overcome  her,  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  the  pic 
ture  had  something  to  do  with  it,  and  a  suspicion 
has  dawned  on  my  mind  that  my  protegee  and  the 
"maiden  of  the  Drachenfels,"  about  whom  Paul 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  265 

used  to  tease  Kenneth,  are  one  and  the  same  ;  and 
if  my  surmises  are  correct  it  was  a  far  more  serious 
matter  to  the  poor  maiden  than  either  of  them 
could  have  imagined.  How  she  came  here,  so  far 
from  her  home,  I  cannot  conjecture ;  but  my  opin 
ion  remains  the  same ;  and  although  at  present 
detained  in  the  house  by  a  rainy  spell,  and  a  slight 
cold,  an  impulse,  that  is  not  mere  idle  curiosity, 
prompts  me  to  ascertain,  if  possible,  whether  I  am 
correct.  Ask  Paul  if  his  maiden's  name  was 
Bertha." 

"Poor,  poor  girl!"  said  Marcia,  who  had 
been  greatly  agitated  while  listening  to  this  nar 
rative.  "  I  wonder  if  it  could  be  !  I  don't  think 
the  name  was  Bertha ;  but  I  will  ask  Kenneth 
this  very  night!" 

"  How  strange  !  "  said  Lottie,  "and  how  sad  ! 
But  perhaps,  after  all,  it  was  only  a  spasm,  and 
we  have  been  weaving  a  romance  out  of  nothing ; " 
and,  somehow,  Marcia  felt  unaccountably  relieved 
at  the  suggestion. 

But,  absorbed  in  their  comments  and  specula 
tions,  they  did  not  hear  the  stifled  groan  that 
escaped  from  a  pair  of  trembling  lips,  or  see  the 
ghastly  look  that  crept  into  a  white  face  that 
was  gazing  at  them  through  the  vine-wreathed 

13 


266  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

window ;  and  even  when  attracted  "by  the  clatter 
of  horses'  hoofs,  Dick,  looking  out,  exclaimed  : 

"There  goes  Cousin  Kenneth  on  Wildfire,  rid 
ing  like  mad  towards  the  Ivy.  I  wonder  what's 
the  matter ! "  His  remark  failed  to  make  any 
impression;  though  when  the  evening  passed 
and  no  Kenneth  appeared,  and  even  her  uncle 
noticed  his  unusual  absence,  it  recurred  to  Mar- 
cia,  filling  her  with  a  vague  uneasiness  which 
she  could  not  repress,  though  she  mentally  re 
proved  herself  for  it  sharply. 

But  her  apprehensions  fled  with  the  night,  and 
she  was  busying  herself  gayly  about  her  room 
the  next  morning,  the  great  happiness  filling  her 
heart,  brimming  over  in  occasional  snatches  of 
song,  when,  with  a  low  knock  at  the  door,  Aunt 
Lucia  entered.  With  an  exclamation  of  pleasure, 
she  sprang  forward  to  meet  her,  but  the  words 
died  on  her  lips ;  for  never  before  had  she  seen 
on  her  Aunt' s  placid  face  such  a  painful  expres 
sion  of  sorrow. 

"Dear  Aunt  Lucia!  something  has  happened: 
tell  me  what  it  is,"  said  she,  putting  her  arm 
gently  around  her  aunt's  waist. 

"My  child,  my  poor  child!"  replied  Aunt 
Lucia,  "sit  down  by  me  and  I  will  tell  you  all." 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  267 

"Oh!  what  is  it?  Kenneth,  dear  Kenneth! 
Is  he  ill?  Let  me  go  to  him,"  gasped  Marcia, 
trembling  with  alarm. 

"Marcia,  dear  Marcia!  calm  yourself,"  said 
her  aunt.  "  Summon  all  your  faith,  for  God 
has  sent  you  a  severe  trial.  But  if  you  can  only 
trust  Him,  He  will  send  the  strength  to  bear  it. 
Kenneth  is  not  ill,  but  he  has  gone." 

"Kenneth  gone!  How?  Where?"  asked 
Marcia,  putting  her  hand  to  her  head,  with  a 
dazed  look,  as  if  she  had  heard  the  words  without 
comprehending  their  meaning. 

And  her  aunt  proceeded  to  tell  her,  as  gently 
as  possible,  that  when  Mr.  Elmore  went  out  from 
breakfast  that  morning,  he  had  found  Jeffries 
waiting  for  him  in  great  distress,  and  the  old 
man  had  told  him  that  Kenneth  had  come  from 
riding  the  evening  before  dreadfully  agitated, 
and,  without  speaking  to  any  one,  had  locked 
himself  in  the  library,  remaining  there  for  hours, 
and  at  last  coming  out  to  tell  him  that  he  had 
heard  bad  news  and  must  leave  for  New  York 
on  the  night-train,  and  at  the  same  time  giving 
him  a  note  for  Marcia,  with  instructions  to  deliver 
it  in  the  morning.  "Then,"  said  the  old  man, 
"he  turned  to  the  dame,  and  said,  '  Those  rooms— 


268  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

her  rooms — lock  them :  let  no  one  go  in,'  and  he 
was  gone  "before  we  could  think." 

Marcia  closed  her  fingers  mechanically  on  the 
note  which  her  Aunt  Lucia  placed  in  her  hand, 
and  opening  it,  read,  her  features  growing  more 
rigid  with  every  word : 

"Marcia  !  My  Marcia,  that  was  so  soon  to  be, 
how  can  I  find  words  to  tell  you  what  you  must 
know!  May  it  not  break  your  heart  as  it  has 
broken  mine  !  That  letter,  that  fatal'  letter  !  You 
did  not  see  me ;  but  I  heard  it  all,  and  Jennie'  9 
heroine  is  the  Maiden  of  Drachenfels — and — O 
God !  can  I  write  it  and  live  ? — my  .wife  !  Yes, 
my  wife  !  But  do  not  think  me  quite  a  villain ; 
for,  as  Heaven  is  my  witness,  until  that  moment, 
I  had  believed  her  dead.  But  she  is  living, 
and  I  must  go.  Where,  I  know  not !  Some 
where,  anywhere,  till  I  am  calm  enough  to  do 
my  duty,  and  then — to  her.  I  dare  not  even 
trust  myself  to  say  good-by ;  for,  if  I  were  to  look 
on  you  once  more,  I  could  never  leave  you.  And 
now,  my  love,  my  darling ! — for  the  last  time  I 
may  call  you  so — farewell !  God  help  us  to  bear 
this  agony,  this  worse  than  death  in  life. 

"KENNETH." 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  269 

As  Marcia  finished,  she  gave  a  low  moan  and 
sank  back  insensible,  and  for  days  she  never 
moved  from  the  bed  on  which  she  was  laid.  But 
youth  is  strong,  and  at  length  she  began  to 
recover,  evincing  such  growing  impatience  for 
returning  strength,  that  her  friends  were  both 
surprised  and  pleased,  as  they  considered  it  a 
more  favorable  symptom  than  the  listless  apathy 
which  usually  follows  upon  great  mental  suffer 
ing.  At  last,  she  was  able  to  go  downstairs 
and  take  a  turn  on  the  veranda ;  and  the  very 
next  day,  she  surprised  her  uncle  by  asking  a  few 
moments,  conversation  with  him. 

"What  is  it,  my  dear?"  said  he,  stroking  her 
thin  hand,  and  looking  tenderly  in  her  poor,  wan 
face. 

44  Uncle,"  said  she,  bringing  the  words  out  with 
a  great  effort,  "I  want  to  talk  to  you  about  my 
future." 

"Your  future!"  ejaculated  he.  "Of  course 
you  will  stay  here  with  Aunt  Lucia,  and  be  our 
comfort,  as  you  have  always  been.  I  wonder 
how  we  ever  thought  we  could  do  without  you." 

"No!  no!"  said  she,  "that  cannot  be.  It 
is  all  so  different  now,  so  changed!  I  do  not 
want  to  stand  in  the  way  of  Lottie's  and  Christa- 


270  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

bel's  happiness :  their  wedding  must  go  on  ;  it  is 
my  dearest  wish  that  it  should  go  on.  But  I  don't 
think  that  I  could  bear  to  see  it,  and  I  must  go 
away.  Everything  here  reminds  me  so  of — of— 
the  days  that  are  gone,  that  I  shall  go  mad  if  I 
stay!" 

"Poor  child!  Poor  child!"  said  her  uncle 
sympathizingly  ;  "  but  where  can  you  go  ?" 

"To  Florida,  to  my  old  home,"  replied  Marcia. 
"  I  have  duties  and  responsibilities  there  which 
I  can  find  nowhere  else,  and  perhaps  in  the 
performance  of  them  I  may  find  a  measure  of  con 
tent,  or  at  least  forgetfulness  !  " 

"But  you  cannot  live  there  alone!"  persisted 
her  uncle. 

"No!  I  have  thought  of  that.  And  there  is 
Mrs.  Grey,  our  dear  old  Maitresse  d' Anglais  at 
Madame  IT  Etude's.  Her  failing  eyesight  has 
compelled  her  to  give  up  her  classes,  and  I  think 
she  will  be  glad  to  be  my  companion.  I  could 
not  have  a  better  or  a  kinder  friend,  and  I  only 
await  your  permission  to  write  to  her." 

In  vain  her  uncle  expostulated,  and  in  vain 
the  whole  family  raised  a  storm  of  opposition, 
Lottie  declaring  that  she  would  be  in  despair, 
if  she  left  her.  Marcia  met  all  their  remonstrances 


EBON  AND  GOLD. 


271 


with  such  quiet  determination,  that  they  were 
finally  forced  to  yield.  The  letter  to  Mrs.  Grey 
was  written,  and  she  joyfully  accepted  Marcia's 
offer,  and  by  the  time  the  touch  of  the  frost-king 
was  tinging  the  woods  of  Glen  Eden  with  his  first 
autumnal  glory,  they  were  already  far  on  their 
journey  to  Florida. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

"  O  sad  '  no  more  !  '  O  sweet  '  no  more  I ' 

0  strange  '  no  more  !  ' 

By  a  mossed  brook-bank  on  a  stone 

1  smelt  a  wild-weed  flower  alone  ; 
There  was  a  ringing  in  my  ears, 

And  both  my  eyes  gushed  out  with  tears. 

Surely  all  pleasant  things  had  gone  before, 

Low  buried  fathom  deep  with  thee,  '  no  more  ! ' " 

"  Half-light,  half -shadow,  let  my  spirit  sleep  : 
They  never  learn  to  love  who  never  knew  to  weep. " 

TENNYSON. 


)U  George  Washington  I  Stop  dat  grinnin' , 
and  git*  Thomas  Jefferson  to  help  wid  dis 
yere  pianny  !  "  said  Aunt  Phillis,  who  was 
"bustling  about,  superintending  the  unpacking  of 
a  piano,  which  Mr.  Elraore  had  thoughtfully  or 
dered  from  St.  Augustine  for  Marcia.  Her  young 
mistress  was  expected  that  very  evening,  and  the 
old  woman  was  in  a  perfect  fever  of  delight, 
which  was  expending  itself  in  all  manner  of  ener 
getic  preparations  and  admonitions  to  her  fellow- 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  273 

servants,  over  whom  she  was  "  lording  it"  in  the 
most  approved  style. 

"  Sakes  alive!"  continued  she,  "what's  de 
matter  wid  you  niggas  ?  'Pears  like  yer  done 
lost  e"ben  de  sense  ye  war  born  wid.  Bar's  no 
tellin'  what  ud  come  o'  ye,  widout  dis  chile  to 
keep  yer  straight,  and  hold  up  de  honors  u"b  dis 
family." 

"  He  !  he !  he !  de  Lor'  knows  she  am  big 
enuff  to  hold  all  dem  and  a  heap  more,"  said 
"that  sassy  Chloe,"  in  anf  aside  to  her  admiring 
attendant,  Gustavus  Adolphus,  otherwise  "Gus," 
who  tittered  in  chorus,  as  in  duty  bound,  till 
Aunt  Phillis,  turning  wrathfully  around  upon 
them,  exclaimed: 

"Hold  yer  mouf,  yer  brack  varmints.  I'se  a 
thankin'  my  Maker,  dis  bressed  minit,  dat  I  ain't 
no  bean-pole,  and  I  'dare  to  goodness,  I'd  be 
'shamed  to  look  at  corn-bread  and  bacon  ef  I 
didn't  make  no  better  show  for  my  keepin'  den 
some  folks  ! "  And  having  thus  effectually 
quenched  her  antagonists,  she  again  applied  her 
self  to  the  matter  in  hand. 

"Dar!  dat  looks  somethin'  like!"  exclaimed 
she,  wiping  the  big  drops  of  perspiration  from 
her  dusky  brow  when  the  piano  was  at  last 

12* 


274:  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

safely  deposited  in  what  was  to  be  Marcia's 
sitting-room.  "And  maybe  ole  Aunt  Phillis 
won't  "be  proud  when  she  hears  de  little  white 
hands  a-runnin'  ober  dein  dar  keys.  'Spec  my 
young  miss  knows  'most  as  much  as  Father 
Baptiste  by  dis  time,  and  he's  done  forgot  inore'n 
all  de  res'  ub  de  folks  'round  here  ebber  larned. 
She  was  allers  peert  from  a  baby,  a-lookin'  aroun' 
wid  dem  big  brack  eyes,  as  ef  she  wanted  to  git 
at  de  bottom  ub  eb'ryting.  Bress  her  little 
life  !  " 

And  there  is  no  telling  where  Aunt  Phillis'  tide 
of  reminiscence  would  have  stopped,  if  Gus  had 
not  interrupted  her  at  this  juncture  by  respect 
fully  intimating  that  he  would  feel  "  obligated" 
if  she  would  be  so  kind  as  to  get  out  the  silver. 

"Bat's  what  I  call  talkin'  !"  said  she,  with  a 
gratified  sniff.  "  And  dis  yere  table  looks  like 
white  folk;"  as  she  eyed  with  complacency  the 
snowy  cloth,  the  spotless  china,  and  polished 
glass.  "Bar's  no 'nyin',  Gustavus,  datyou'se  a 
berry  good  nigga,  'cept  when  dat  no-account 
Chloe's  around,  and  she's  'nuff  to  c'rupt  de  Lord 
Gabriel  heself!  What  yer  come  for,  Corio- 
lanus  \ "  as  a  little  woolly  head  poked  itself  in  at 
the  door. 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  275 

"Please,  Aunt  Phillis,  mammy's  a-waitin'  for 
dem  eggs !" 

"I'm  a-coinin',"  replied  Aunt  Phillis.  "And 
mind  you,  Coriolanus,  git  Columbus  and  pack 
yer§elf  to  de  big  gate  dis  minit,  and  hold  it  wide 
open  fur  yer  young  miss  to  ride  froo  ;  and  de  fust 
one  dat  goes-  to  noddin'll  git  his  head  cracked !  ft 

Unawed  by  this  dreadful  threat,  the  two  ur 
chins  were  soon  rolling  and  tumbling  like  a  pair 
of  young  acrobats  down  the  broad  avenue  in  the 
direction  of  the  gate  ;  and  they  had  scarcely  time 
to  take  their  appointed  stations  before  a  rumbling 
of  wheels  was  heard,  and  the  carriage  rolled 
through,  and  in  a  few  moments  Marcia  was  folded 
in  the  arms  of  her  faithful  old  nurse,  who  was 
sobbing  and  crying  with  emotion  as  genuine -as  if 
her  skin  had  been  white  as  snow,  under  the  influ 
ence  of  that  mysterious  "touch  of  nature"  that 
"  makes  the  whole  world  kin." 

Disengaging  herself  at  last  for  a  "  How  d'ye  ? " 
and  a  shake  of  the  hand  with  the  rest  of  her  sable 
friends,  who  crowded  around  her,  Marcia  sud 
denly  remembered  Mrs.  Grey,  who  was  standing, 
all  this  time,  an  unnoticed  but  not  uninterested 
spectator  of  the  little  scene. 

"  Forgive  me,  my  friend,  if  for  a  moment  I  for- 


276  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

got  you.  This  is  my  good  old  nurse ;  Aunt 
Phillis,  this  is  my  friend,  Mrs.  Grey." 

"You'se  mighty  welcome,  missus,  and  so's  all 
Miss  Marshy' s  friends.  But  Lor'  !  honey,  how 
you've  growed!  Purty  as  a  pink,  too!"  ejacu 
lated  Aunt  Phillis,  having  as  yet  neither  eyes  nor 
thoughts  for  anything  "but  her  nursling.  "But, 
Miss  Marshy,  whar's  the  prince?  I  thought  for 
sure  you'd  bring  him  along  wid  you." 

"  Oh  no !  Aunt  Phillis,"  said  Marcia,  coloring 
painfully,  "there  is  no  prince,  and  I  have  not 
come  back  a  princess,  but  just  your  child — your 
own  Miss  Marshy  !  " 

"  Dat's  all  right,  honey  ;  but  I  'spect  de  prince' 11 
be  a -coming  too,  afore  we're  much  older.  But 
whar  am  my  sense  ? "  added  she,  suddenly  recollect 
ing  herself.  "  A-keeping  you  and  missis  a  sottin' 
wid  your  bonnets  and  dusty  close,  and  Aunt 
Dinah  in  de  kitchen  cross  as  two  sticks,  case  her 
supper's  a-dryin'  up  !  "  and  she  bustled  upstairs 
with  Mrs.  Grey  and  Marcia,  while  Chloe  and  Letty 
(a  smart  young  negress,  formerly  Marcia' s  playfel 
low,  but  now  aspiring  to  be  her  maid)  followed 
with  their  travelling-bags,  shawls,  etc. 

"How  pleasant!"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Grey,  look 
ing  admiringly  at  her  spacious  chamber,  with  its 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  277 

polished  floor,  snowy  bed,  spotless  toilet,  and 
the  full  muslin  curtains  draping  the  windows,  two 
of  which  commanded  a  view  of  the  ocean,  and, 
charmed  with  her  unfeigned  admiration,  Aunt 
Phillis  set  her  down  as  a  "real,  sure  'nuff  lady," 
from  that  moment. 

A  flood  of  mingled  emotions  rushed  over  Marcia, 
as  she  entered  once  more  her  old  familiar  room, 
and  thought  how  she  had  last  crossed  the  threshold, 
a  careless  child,  full  of  bright  anticipations  of  the 
future,  to  return  to  it,  still  indeed  scarcely  more 
than  a  child,  as  the  world  counts  years,  but  a 
woman  in  experience  and  suffering,  with  nothing 
left  to  her  but  the  ashes  of  the  hopes  and  dreams 
that  had  made  life  beautiful. 

But  this  was  no  time  for  thought ;  and  casting  it 
from  her  with  the  self-control  that  was  fast  becom 
ing  habitual,  she  was  soon  ready  to  accompany 
Mrs.  Grey  to  the  dining-room. 

"  O  Aunt  Phillis,  you  are  the  very  queen  of 
caterers  !  "  exclaimed  she  as  she  sat  down  to  the 
table  ;  "  but  I  fear  that  Mrs.  Grey  and  I  would 
have  need  of  two  stomachs,  like  the  pelican,  to  do 
even  half-way  justice  to  all  the  good  things  you 
and  Aunt  Dinah  have  provided  for  us." 

And  indeed  the  chickens,  broiled  and  fried  aa 


278  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

only  a  darkey,  native  and  to  the  manner  born,  can 
"broil  and  fry  them  ;  the  rolls,  white  and  flaky  as 
new-fallen  snow ;  the  waffles,  done  to  a  turn,  and 
not,  as  is  too  often  the  case,  turned  over  and  done 
again  ;  the  delicious  golden-brown  corn- bread ; 
the  butter,  fresh  as  a  daisy  ;  fragrant  Mocha,  rich 
yellow  cream,  and  delicate  side-dishes  of  tongue 
and  ham,  cut  into  almost  transparent  shavings  ;  to 
say  nothing  of  the  luscious  ice-cream,  amber  jellies, 
and  mountains  of  tempting  cake,  peeping  out  like 
an  after-thought  from  the  recesses  of  the  side-board 
— were  enough  to  justify  such  an  exclamation. 
But  although  not  able  to  appreciate  the  feast,  in  a 
material  point  of  view,  as  heartily  as  her  old  nurse 
could  have  desired,  Marcia  certainly  did  not  un 
dervalue  the  affection  of  which  it  was  an  evi 
dence  ;  and  when  she  laid  her  head  on  her  pillow 
that  night,  she  could  not  but  acknowledge  to  her 
self  that  although  God  had  seen  fit  to  deny  her 
life's  crowning  blessing,  He  had  certainly  left  her 
much  to  be  thankful  for. 

The  first  proceeding  after  breakfast,  the  next 
morning,  was  the  distribution  of  the  presents  which, 
even  in  the  midst  of  her  grief,  she  had  not  neglected 
to  provide  for  the  servants,  and  all  of  which  gave 
intense  satisfaction.  Aunt  Phillis  being  longest 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  279 

and  loudest  in  her  delight  over  a  gayly-hued  silk 
dress,  a  marvellous  turban,  and  ponderous  ear 
rings.  For  Mrs.  Grey  this  spectacle  possessed 
all  the  charm  of  novelty ;  but  when  it  was  over, 
she  retired  to  her  own  room  to  attend  to  her  un 
packing,  while  Marcia  "betook  herself  to  the  gar 
den.  How  unchanged  it  was !  It  seemed  as  if 
Time,  so  busy  elsewhere,  had  forgotten  this  quiet 
spot,  and  left  it  untouched,  while  all  besides  bore 
traces  of  his  way-marks.  The  parterres  were  gay 
with  the  same  flowers  that  blossomed  there  of 
yore ;  the  birds  sang  the  same  songs ;  the  orange 
and  magnolia  groves  breathed  the  same  sweet  per 
fume  ;  the  marble  naiads  still  smilingly  guarded 
the  sparkling  fountain  ;  the  moss-grown  sun-dial 
marked  the  silent  shadows  as  it  had  done  a  cen 
tury  ago,  and  there  stood  the  tree  from  whose 
friendly  branches  Aunt  Phillis  had  summoned  her 
on  that  never-to-be-forgotten  morning,  and  as  she 
gazed  it  almost  seemed  to  Marcia  that  all  these 
years  had  been  a  dream,  from  which  she  would 
awaken  to  find  herself  the  elfish,  neglected  child, 
with  her  stern  grandmother  awaiting  her  in  the 
gray  old  mansion.  And  even  this  lonely  child 
hood  seemed  so  inviting,  compared  with  the  mis 
ery  of  the  present,  that  for  a  moment  Marcia  almost 


EBON  AND   GOLD. 

wished  that  it  could  be  so  But  then,  "  Oh  no  ! " 
she  cried.  "Kenneth!  my  lost  love!  it  is  agony 
to  give  you  up,  but  I  cannot  bring  myself  to  wish 
that  I  had  never  known  you  ! " 

And  thus  she  sat,  while  the  day  wore  on  apace, 
so  deep  in  thought  that  she  marked  not  the  flight 
of  time,  till  she  heard  a  familiar  voice  saying : 

"Ef  dat  ain't  Miss  Marshy  all  ober !  a-settin' 
and  a-thinkin',  and  a-thinkin',  as  ef  dar  weren't 
no  sich  thing  as  dinner.  Many's  de  time  she'd  a 
gone  hungry  ef  it  hadn't  been  for  me  ! "  and  look 
ing  up,  she  saw  Aunt  Phillis,  come  in  search  of  her. 

"I  believe  you're  right,  Aunt  Phillis,"  said  she. 
"I'm  afraid  that  I  cost  you  many  a  tramp  when  I 
was  a  child.  And  by  the  way,  everything  here 
seems  so  natural,  that  I  have  almost  fancied  myself 
one  again." 

"  Well,"  said  Aunt  Phillis,  a  little  scornfully, 
"  dem  days  weren't  such  gay  ones  for  you,  dat  you 
should  keer  to  have  'em  come  back.  I  thought 
you'd  be  a-thinkin'  'bout  de  prince." 

"O  Aunt  Phillis!"  said  Marcia,  changing 
color  in  spite  of  herself;  "don't  talk  any  more 
about  princes ;  I'  ve  done  with  all  that  childish 
nonsense,  and  never  mean  to  have  any  prince  but 
those  I  used  to  read  about.  I  will  just  live  here 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  281 

quietly  with  Mrs.  Grey,  and  we  will  do  all  the 
good  we  can,  and  you  must  help  us  to  hunt  up 
the  poor  people." 

"Lord,  Miss  Marshy  !  how  you  talk  !  You'd 
"better  "b'lieve  it  "beats  my  time,  to  think  ub  a 
young  miss  like  you,  pretty  as  a  pictur',  a-makin' 
a  nunnery  ub  herself,  and  a-paddlin'  roun'  arter 
poor  white  trash,  when  she  might  be  a-havin'  balls 
and  parties  till  she  couldn't  res',  an'  more  beaux 
dan  she  could  shake  a  stick  at." 

"  Dreadful !  "  exclaimed  Marcia,  laughing  ;  "I 
am  thankful  to  be  spared  such  an  ordeal.  But, 
Aunt  Phillls,  it  is  you  that  are  forgetting  dinner 
this  time,  and  Mrs.  Grey  will  be  wondering  what 
has  become  of  me." 

And,  true  to  her  word,  Marcia  entered  at  once 
on  the  quiet,  earnest  life  she  had  marked  out  for 
herself.  The  visits  of  her  neighbors  were  cor 
dially  received  and  scrupulously  returned,  but 
she  neither  gave  nor  accepted  invitations  to  those 
grand  entertainments  of  which  it  had  been  Aunt 
Phillis'  delight  to  imagine  her  the  queen,  though 
her  name  soon  became  a  household  word  in  the 
homes  of  the  poverty-stricken  and  the  afflicted  ; 
and  Father  Baptiste  had  never  found  such  a  pow 
erful  auxiliary :  for  he  had  but  to  mention  a 


282  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

charity,  and  she  devoted,  not  only  her  ample 
means,  but  her  personal  energies  to  its  accomplish 
ment.  In  the  meantime,  frequent  letters  came  to 
her  ;  first  from  Glen  Eden,  bringing  news  of  the 
marriage  and  of  Jennie' s  return,  looking  paler  and 
thinner  than  her  friends  could  wish,  but  withal  in 
spirits,  so  Lottie  wrote,  almost  too  wild  to  be  natu 
ral.  Then  from  New  York,  where  Christabel  and 
Lottie  were  established  for  the  winter,  Jennie  hav 
ing  departed  for  her  far-off  home,  while  Mr. 
Elmore  was  contemplating  a  voyage  to  Europe 
with  his  wife  and  the  little  ones.  Aunt  Lucia 
being  rather  delicate,  the  physician  had  prescribed 
a  sea-voyage,  and  they  were  anxious  to  place  Dick 
in  a  university  at  Edinburgli  recommended  by  Mr. 
MacKensie.  Thus  there  was  a  word  from  all  but 
the  one  that  was  dearest,  from  whom  she  might 
not  hope  to  hear,  and  whose  name  she  never 
breathed  save  in  the  silent  watches  of  the  night, 
when  the  moon  and  the  stars  were  her  only  listen 
ers.  And  the  winter  wore  on,  and  day  by  day, 
although  her  gentle  smile'  was  never  wanting, 
Marcia'  s  cheek  grew  paler  and  thinner,  till  Aunt 
Phillis  began  to  wonder  sadly  what  they  had  done 
to  her  darling  up  dar  at  de  Norf,  and  to  be  filled 
with  a  nameless  dread,  which  she  would  not  ac- 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  283 

• 

knowledge  even  to  herself.  Mrs.  Grey,  too, 
looked  wistfully  at  her  favorite,  and  her  lips  often 
framed  questions,  which,  however,  were  never 
uttered,  as  there  was  an  atmosphere  of  reticence 
about  the  young  girl  that  even  she  dared  not 
penetrate. 

One  bright  afternoon,  when  they  had,  as  usual, 
betaken  themselves  to  the  sitting-room  after  their 
early  dinner,  she  was  about  making  up  her  mind 
for  the  hundredth  time  to  speak,  when  Marcia  ex 
claimed  from  her  seat  near  the  window : 

"  There  are  some  visitors !  Now  if  Letty  were 
but  here,  she  could  at  once  tell  from  a  glance  at 
the  carriage  the  names  of  its  occupants,  and  would 
moreover  give  us  their  entire  pedigree,  to  say 
nothing  of  their  family  history,  past,  present,  and, 
I  was  going  to  say,  future,  before  they  could  have 
time  to  introduce  themselves.  But,  unfortunately, 
she  is  not  on  hand,  and  we  must  await  a  more  for 
mal  mode  of  procedure." 

At  this  moment  Gustavus  entered  with  the  cards. 

' '  Mrs.  Clayton,  Miss  Clayton,  Mr.  Louis  Clay 
ton,"  read  Marcia.  "I  thought  they  were  still 
abroad.  They  must  have  returned  very  recently. 
Mrs.  Grey,  Mrs.  Clayton,  though  considerably 
older,  was  my  own  dear  mamma's  best  friend,  and 


284:  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

the  only  one,  so  Father  Baptiste  tells  me,  who ' 
her  in  her  last  illness." 

But  by  this  time  the  party  had  followed  their 
cards,  and  the  meeting  between  Marcia  and  her 
guests  was  all  that  might  have  been  expected  from 
these  tender  reminiscences.  Mrs.  Clayton  at  once 
felt  her  motherly  heart  warm  to  the  lonely  young 
girl ;  Blanche,  with  more  sincerity  than  usually 
accompanies  such  protestations,  said,  with  a  loving 
pressure  of  the  hand,  that  she  hoped  they  would 
be  friends  as  well  as  neighbors  ;  while  as  for 
Louis,  the  handsome  son  and  heir,  it  was  easy  to 
see  that  he  was  charmed  to  discover  so  rare  an  ex 
otic  in  his  native,  wilds.  The  visit  passed  most 
agreeably ;  and  when  they  arose  to  take  leave, 
Marcia  was  surprised  to  find  how  much  she  had 
enjoyed  it.  The  conversation  had  been  so  general 
that  it  was  not  until  this  moment  that  Louis  found 
an  opportunity  to  say  to  her : 

"By  the  way,  Miss  Lyle,  I  travelled  some  dis 
tance  with  a  friend  of  yours,  just  before  leaving  Eu 
rope — a  Mr.  Murray. 

"Indeed  !"  said  Marcia,  and  a  quick  throb  of 
the  heart,  unnoticed  by  her  companion,  was  the 
only  token  that  betrayed  that  this  name  possessed 
for  her  any  unusual  interest. 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  285 

"A  very  particular  friend,"  continued  Mr.  Clay 
ton,  "  if  I  may  judge  from  the  manner  in  which 
he  spoke  of  you.  I  chanced  to  mention  that  I  was 
from  this  portion  of  Florida,  and  was  expecting 
soon  to  return  hither,  and  he  immediately  inquired 
if  I  knew  you.  I  told  him  no ;  though  I  hoped 
soon  to  do  so,  as  our  plantations  not  only  adjoined, 
"but  our  families  were  connected  by  ancient  ties 
of  friendship.  'You  know  not  what  is  in  store 
for  you,'  replied  he.  Indeed  I  found  him  most 
agreeable,  though  almost  too  grave  and  abstracted 
for  one  so  young,  seeming  like  a  man  under  the 
pressure  of  some  great  trouble  ;  and  the  message  he 
gave  me  for  you  in  parting  was,  to  say  the  least,  a 
little  singular.  'Tell  Miss  Lyle  for  me, ''said  he, 
'  that  I  have  found  nothing,  and  that  I  am  still  a 
wanderer. '  But, ' '  added  the  young  man  hurriedly 
alarmed  at  the  pallor  that  overspread  Marcia'sface 
at  these  words,  ' '  you  are  ill,  Miss  Lyle  ;  shall  I 
call  mamma  1 ' '  For  they  were  standing  somewhat 
apart  from  the  ladies,  who  were  conversing  with 
Mrs.  Grey. 

"  No,"  said  Marcia,  mastering  her  emotion  with 
a  great  effort.  "  It  is  nothing.  See,  it  has  already 
passed.  I  have  not  been  strong  lately."  And  a 
few  moments  afterwards  she  was  standing  on  the 


286  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

veranda,  watching  her  departing  guests  with  a 
demeanor  as  placid  as  if  nothing  had  occurred  to 
disturb  her. 

"Isn't  she  lovely?"  exclaimed  the  impulsive 
Blanche,  as  the  carriage  rolled  away.  ''I  could 
not  have  imagined  so  much  gentleness  and  sweet 
ness  combined  with  such  grace  and  dignity." 

"  She  is  indeed  singularly  attractive,  "  returned 
Mrs.  Clayton  ;  "possessed  of  charms  even  greater 
than  those  that  made  her  poor  mother's  name  al 
most  legendary  in  this  part  of  the  country.  But 
what  did  you  think  of  her,  my  son  ? " 

"Now  don't  ask  Louis,  mamma  ;  don't  you  see 
that  he  is  mooning  already  ?  But  I  warn  you  not 
to  fall  in  love,  brother  mine,  for  it  is  said  that  this 
dear,  delightful  Miss  Lyle  (I  am  going  to  call  her 
Marcia)  looks  but  coldly  on  your  sex,  and  some 
go  so  far  as  to  assert  that  she  has  vowed  herself  to 
a  life  of  good  works  and  single  blessedness." 

"I  shall  take  care  of  my  heart,"  rejoined  her 
"brother  ;  and  mentally  he  was  connecting  Marcia' s 
indisposition  with  his  mention  of  Murray' s  name, 
and  wondering  what  mysterious  fate  might  come 
between  them;  finally  ending  by  acknowledging 
that  but  for  this  very  timely  warning,  that  very 
valuable  little  organ  aforesaid  might  have  been 
in  danger. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Oh  is  it  weed,  or  fish,  or  floating  hair, 
A  tress  o'  golden  hair, 
O'  drowned  maiden's  hair, 
Above  the  nets  at  sea  ? 
Was  never  salmon  yet  that  shone  so  fair 
Among  the  stakes  on  Dee. 

KINSLEY. 

AM,  -«-  was  a  wild  night  on  the  Florida  coast,  and 


the  voice  of  the  gale,  howling  through  the 
magnolia  trees  in  the  avenue,  and  shriek 
ing  around  the  gables  till  it  died  away  in  a  hoarse 
moan,  at  last  penetrated  even  the  cosey  sitting-room 
where  Marcia  and  Mrs.  Grey  sat  with  their  books 
and  work  ;  and  underneath,  yet  pervading  all  like 
a  sullen  monotone,  came  the  roar  of  the  angry 
waves,  lashed  into  fury  by  the  blast,  and  beating 
against  the  rocky  coast  as  if  clamorous  for  vic 
tims. 

uWhat  a  fearful  storm!"   exclaimed  Marcia, 
shuddering  ;  and  laying  down  her  work  she  went 


288  EBON  AND  &OLD. 

to  one  of  the  windows  that  looked  oceanward,  and 
peered  anxiously  into  the  inky  blackness  without. 
"  God  grant  there  may  be  no  vessel  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  reefs  to-night,  for  surely 
nothing  could  live  in  such  a  tempest !  As  I  gaze, 
I  can  see  nothing  but  an  ominous  line  of  white  in 
the  distance,  as  if  the  billows  were  rising  in 
mighty  protest  against  man's  impotence.  Lis 
ten  ! "  she  exclaimed,  her  face  glowing  with  excite 
ment,  as  a  lurid  flash  lit  up  the  sky,  followed  by 
a  peal  of  thunder  that  seemed  to  reverberate  in 
endless  echoes.  "  I  almost  fancy  that  I  can  hear 
the  wail  of  the  Banshee  in  the  rising  blast.  How 
grand,  how  sublime,  is  this  war  of  the  elements  ! 
Man  seems  so  little,  and  God  so  vast.  As  far  as  it 
is  given  to  finite  minds  to  do,  we  seem  to  compre 
hend  His  infinitude,  His  immensity.  The  Omnip 
otent,  who  holds  the  ocean  in  the  hollow  of  His 
hand,  and  yet,  0  incomprehensible  love !  has  num 
bered  each  hair  of  our  unworthy  heads,  and  suffers 
not  even  a  sparrow  to  fall  to  the  ground  unnoticed. 
But  Mrs.  Grey,  you  are  so  pale  ;  you  are  frigh 
tened  !  I  was  thoughtless  ;  we  will  shut  out  the 
storm,  and  try  to  forget  it ;  and  we  will  talk,  or, 
if  you  like,  I  will  read  while  you  sit  still  and  lis 
ten." 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  289 

And  Marcia  drew  the  curtains.  But  just  as  she 
had  taken  a  book  and  prepared  to  seat  herself, 
there  came  another  crash,  louder  and  more  start 
ling  than  before,  and  Mrs.  Grey,  laying  her  hand 
tremblingly  upon  her  arm,  exclaimed : 

"Not  now,  my  child !  I  am  not  so  courageous 
as  you,  and  I  don't  think  I  can  compose  myself 
to  listen  just  now." 

And  at  this  moment  the  door  opened,  and  Aunt 
Phillis  appeared  closely  followed  by  Chloe  and 
Letty,  their  eyes  staring  wildly,  and  their  shiny, 
ebon  faces  ashy  with  fright. 

"O  Miss  Marshy,  honey!"  exclaimed  her  old 
nurse,  ' '  git  down  on  you'  knees,  an'  ax  the  dear 
Jesus  an'  His  bressed  Mother  an'  all  the  saints  to 
'tectus;  for  the  Lord  Gabriel's  a-waitin'  for  us, 
an'  we'se  all  a-gwine  to  kingdom  come  afore  de 
broke  ub  de  mornin'." 

"  Come,  Aunt  Phillis  !  "  said  Marcia  firmly  but 
gently,  compassionating  the  poor  old  creature's 
evident  terror,  but  scarcely  able  to  forbear  a 
smile  at  the  ridiculous  manner  in  which  it  mani 
fested  itself,  "  calm  yourself,  and  tell  me  what  is 
the  matter ;  what  has  occurred  to  alarm  you  so  ? 
Chloe,  Letty,  come  in  and  shut  the  door  1 " 

"What   has  'larmed    me!"   ejaculated  Aunt 


290  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

Phillis.  "O  Miss  Marshy!  is  yer  done  struck 
deaf,  dat  yer  habn't  heerd  the  Almighty  a-rollin' 
His  drefful  cannon-balls,  and  a  'mandin'  ub  de 
debbil  ter  rake  up  de  fires  what's  a-waitin'  fur 
de  poor  sinners  ?  Dey'  se  done  bin  a-makin'  de 
skies  as  light  as  day  and  as  red  as  blood,  an'  de 
ocean's  a-rarin'  and  a-pitchin'  like  mad,  and  de 
waves  is  a-risin'  an'  a-frothin'  worse' n  Aunt 
Dinah's  yeast,  an'  it's  done  riz  clean  out  o'  de  big 
gest  crock! " 

"It  is  certainly  a  dreadful  storm,"  said  Mar- 
cia,  "  but  this  old  house  has  stood  through  many 
a  one  before  ;  and,  Aunt  Phillis,  don't  you  know 
and  believe  that  our  dear  Lord  can  take  care  of 
you  and  keep  you  just  as  safe  in  the  midst  of  the 
tempest  as  in  the  brightest  calm  ? " 

"Yes,  Miss  Marshy!"  said  the  old  woman, 
more  subdued.  "But  please  don't  stop  talkin'. 
I'se  heerd  tell  o'  ile  on  de  troublesome  waters, 
and  de  words  as  come  so  purty  from  yer  sweet 
tongue  am  dat  berry  thing.  But  oh!  I  ain't 
tolled  yer  half !" 

"  Why,  what  more  can  there  be  to  tell  ?  Surely 
there  is -nothing  abroad  to-night  worse  than  the 
thunder  and  the  lightning?  and  we  know  that 
even  these  are  sent  from  the  hand  of  the  same 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  291 

kind  Father  who  gave  'His  only  Son  to  die  that 
we. might  live." 

"De  ghostesses,  honey !  de  ghostesses  ! "  said 
the  old  woman,  lowering  her  voice  to  a  mysterious 
whisper,  while  Chloe  and  Letty  drew  nearer  in 
mute  terror.  "  Leastways  dat  wandersome  Missy 
Inez  "be  a-roamin'  'roun'  like  wild  dis  stormy 
night.  I  tell  ye,  honey,  F  se  "borned  an'  raised  on  dis 
yere  place,  an'  all  my  faders  afore  me  ;  but  I  never 
heern  tell  ob  anything  so  skeery  as  dese  two  eyes 
done  seed  dis  berry  night.  De  winners  nb  dat 
poor  Missy  Inez  am  all  one  blaze  nb  light,  .an' 
de  ole  organ,  what  habn't  gib  a  soun'  since  ole 
miss  died,  be  a-moanin'  and  a-groanin'  as  no  hu 
man  han's  hab  power  to  make  it ! " 

"'Deed,  miss,  dot's  gospel  troof!"  said  Chloe 
and  Letty  as  Marcia  looked  at  them  inquiringly 
and  yet  incredulously,  for  confirmation  of  this 
wonderful  recital.  "An'  ef  yer  will  step  to  de 
glass-door  ub  de  back  piazza,  ye  can  see  for  yer- 
self." 

"  I  will  go  at  once,"  said  Marcia  rising  ;  and  fol 
lowed  by  the  little  throng,  Mrs.  Grey  included, 
she  repaired  to  the  spot  designated,  which  com 
manded  a  full  view  of  the  uninhabited  part  of  the 
mansion.  It  was  indeed  an  extraordinary  sight 


292  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

that  met  her  eyes,  and  she  stood  as  if  transfixed. 
The  electric  fluid  was  glowing  and  writhing  along 
the  iron  framework  of  the  Donna  Inez  windows 
like  so  many  fiery  serpents,  investing  them  with 
a  lurid  glare  that  contrasted  strangely  with  the 
pitchy  darkness  of  the  night,  and  imparte.d  to 
them  a  weird  aspect,  that,  apart  from  all  ghostly 
associations,  rendered  the  terror  of  the  darkies 
less  unreasonable  than  it  had  at  first  appeared. 
Another  flash  lit  them  up  yet  more  vividly.  But 
Marcia's  heart  stood  still,  when,  above  the  roar  of 
the  thunder  that  followed,  arose  a  peal  from  the 
disused  organ,  solemn  and  sad,  like  the  despairing 
wail  of  a  departing  spirit.  She  was  well  enough 
versed  in  science  to  know  that  both  these  phe 
nomena  might  be  accounted  for  by  the  laws  of 
electricity ;  but  for  the  time  her  childish  awe 
came  back  in  full  force  :  and  remembering  the  su 
perstition  that  from  days  immemorial  had  made 
this  sound  a  warning  and  an  omen,  the  thought 
involuntarily  occurred  to  her — "A  death  in  this 
house  !  Whose  may  it  be  ? " 

Often  and  often,  in  the  depth  of  her  misery,  she 
had  persuaded  herself  that  she  longed  for  the 
coming  of  the  dread  Azrael ;  that  she  would  wel 
come  the  touch  of  his  icy  spear.  But  now,  standing, 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  293 

as  it  were,  face  to  face  with  the  supernatural,  she 
shrank  from  the  vague  unknown,  and  shuddered 
as  she-  thought  that  perchance  the  summons,  the 
warning  might  be  for  her.  But  this  was  no  time 
for  vain  forebodings,  and  turning  silently  away, 
she  said  calmly  to  the  terrified  throng  about 
her : 

"  It  is  only  the  lightning ;  there  is  no  cause  for 
fear." 

And  they  were  retracing  their  steps,  when  sud 
denly  there  smote  upon  their  ears  a  sound,  more 
terrible  than  the  din  of  the  tempest,  more  omi 
nous  than  the  wail  of  the  organ,  driving  the  blood 
from  their  cheeks,  to  send  it  curdling  about  their 
hearts.  It  was  the  gun  of  a  ship  in  distress ! 
"Boom!  Boom!"  it  came  solemnly  and  with 
startling  distinctness.  "Boom!"  again;  but  as 
yet  Marcia's  parted  lips  could  utter  no  sound. 
But  at  last  breaking  by  a  desperate  effort  the 
spell  that  froze  the  speech  within  her,  she  cried  : 

"Quick!  Letty!  Chloe  !  light  the  lamp  in  the 
watch-tower !  Aunt  Phillis,  have  hot  water ; 
fires  ;  blankets ;  beds !  There' s  a  ship  on  the 
reefs — and — O  God  !  it  may  be  human  souls  per 
ishing  within  sight  and  sound  of  us  !  And — stay ! 
Ring  the  great  bell  and  call  the  men  from  the 


294:  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

quarter,  and  tell  them  I  will  give  a  hundred 
dollars  to  the  man  that  saves  one  human  life  !  " 

And  thus,  giving  her  orders  with  calmness  and 
decision  in  the  midst  of  her  excitement,  the  frail 
young  girl  rose  to  the  moral  grandeur  of  a  heroine 
in  that  trying  hour.  Having  done  all  that  they 
could  below,  she  and  Mrs.  Grey  ascended  the 
watch-tower,  and  vainly  endeavored  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  the  ship's  lights  through  the  thick 
darkness.  "Boom!  Boom!"  still  came  the 
solemn  sound  of  the  guns  over  the  hungry  waves. 
Now  nearer  and  nearer,  "but  at  longer  intervals, 
till  at  last  there  was  an  ominous  silence  ;  and  with 
a  long  shuddering  sigh  Marcia  buried  her  face  in 
her  hands  ;  then,  as  if  in  answer  to  Mrs.  Grey's 
questioning  look,  she  said : 

"  Yes  !  we  can  do  no  more  good  here !  We  will 
descend!  " 

She  insisted  that  Mrs.  Grey,  who  was  indeed 
quite  overcome  with  agitation  and  excitement, 
should  at  once  retire  ;  but  she  herself  still  kept 
her  weary  vigil ;  though  the  storm,  having  done 
its  worst,  had  quite  subsided,  and  the  dawn  of  a 
beautiful  morning  was  already  flushing  the  eastern 
sky  ere  the  tramp  of  many  feet  in  the  broad  ave 
nue  told  her' that  the  men  had  at  last  returned. 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  295 

On  they  came  :  not  noisily,  but  slowly  and  stead 
ily  ;  and  as  they  drew  nearer,  Marcia  could  see 
that  they  bore  between  them  a  burden.  What 
was  it  ?  Doubtless  some  weather-beaten  seaman, 
whose  superior  strength  and  powers  of  endurance 
had  enabled  him  to  combat  successfully  with  the 
waves  that  had  engulfed  his  hapless  companions ; 
and  Marcia  at  once  ordered  her  attendants  to"  be  at 
hand  with  the  restoratives  which  she  had  had  in 
readiness  throughout  the  long  night. 

"Here !  bring  the  poor  fellow  in  here !"  said 
she,  leading  the  way  to  the  sitting-room,  as  the 
men  at  last  passed  through  the  great  doors. 
"  But  is  this  all  ?  Were  there  no  more  saved  ? " 

"  Yes,  missus  !  Bar's  a  sailor  down  at  ole  Cot 
ter's  de  fisherman's,  an'  he  says  dat  de  ship  was 
de  Lone  Star  from  New  York  to  Havana,  an'  she 
was  chock  full  o'  people  ;  but  as  fur  as  we  kin 
heer  tell,  dey'se  all  done  drowned 'cept  him  an' 
dis  yere  poor  lady  !  " 

"  Lady  !  O  God  ! "  exclaimed  Marcia  in  intense 
excitement.  "Softly,  my  men,  softly!"  as  the 
rough  hands,  with  a  gentleness  born  of  kindly 
hearts,  were  depositing  their  burden  on  the  bed 
which  she  had  caused  to  be  made  up  in  the  sitting- 
room;  and  kneeling  reverently,  she  folded  back  a 


296  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

corner  of  the  blanket.  It  was  a  lovely  face  that 
met  her  gaze,  although  it  was  wan  and  colorless, 
and  the  features  seemed  already  stiffening  in  the 
rigidity  of  death.  The  long,  wet  hair  clung  in 
dishevelled  masses  to  the  neck  and  shoulders ; 
and  struck  dumb  for  the  moment,  Marciawas  me 
chanically  passing  a  glittering  tress  between 
her  trembling  fingers,  when,  observing  the  motion, 
one  of  the  men  exclaimed  : 

"Eh,  Missus,  ef  she  be  saved,  it's  dat  dar  har 
what's  done  it.  Jeff  he  seed  it  a-floatin'  on  de  wa 
ter,  a-shinin'  like  gold  in  de  dark,  and  he  reached 
clean  out  ub  de  boat  fur't,  and  dat's  how  we 
drawedher  in." 

This  speech  recalled  Marcia  to  herself ;  and  put 
ting  her  hand  in  the  region  of  the  heart,  she  cried 
joyfully : 

"  There  is  yet  life  !  We  must  save  her  !  Call 
Mrs.  Grey ;  and  you,  Jefferson,  bring  a  doctor  at 
once !  Go  to  the  quarter,  my  men !  I  have  not 
forgotten  my  promise !  Aunt  Phillis,  Chloe, 
Letty,  here  !  we  must  lose  no  time  !  " 

And  gently  disrobing  the  helpless  form,  they 
chafed  the  rigid  limbs,  soon  aided  by  the  doctor, 
who  promptly  arrived,  till  at  last  they  were  re 
warded  by  a  faint  fluttering  of  the  pulse,  then  ; 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  297 

gasping  sigh,  and  their  patient  opened  her  eyes 
with  a  vacant  stare.  Still  they  did  not  intermit 
their  labors,  and  by  noon  the  rescued  maiden  had 
so  far  revived  as  to  be  able  to  take  several  spoon 
fuls  of  brandy,  and  was  sleeping  calmly,  her 
breathing  becoming  each  moment  more  natural 
and  regular.  Who  was  she,  and  whence  did  she 
come  ?  Marcia  did  not  know  ;  but  as  she  watched 
beside  the  fragile  form  of  the  sleeper,  and  thought 
of  the  loved  ones  who,  perchance,  had  gone  down 
with  the  wreck,  whence  she  had  been  so  miracu 
lously  rescued,  her  heart  went  out  in  sympathy 
for  the  anguish  that  would  probably  accompany 
the  awakening.  But  the  day  was  far  spent,  and 
she  herself  was  taking  the  rest  she  so  much 
needed,  when  at  last  her  patient  aroused,  and 
looking  wonderingly  around  her,  muttered  a  few 
unintelligible  words  to  Aunt  Phillis,  who  was  sit 
ting  beside  her.  The  old  woman  at  once  sum 
moned  Mrs.  Grey,  of  whom  the  poor  girl  asked 
faintly,  and  in  French  :  "  Where  am  I  ?  " 

"  Safe  and  among  friends  !  "  replied  Mrs.  Grey 
soothingly ;  and  too  weak  to  comprehend  her  situ 
ation,  she  soon  closed  her  eyes  and  slept  again. 
For  a  time,  quietly  ;  but  as  the  night  wore  on, 
she  grew  restless,  moving  her  arms  uneasily 

13* 


298  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

about,  muttering  "brokenly  to  herself,  and  moan 
ing  as  if  in  pain.  Much  alarmed,  Marcia,  as  soon 
as  it  was  light,  sent  for  the  doctor,  who,  putting 
his  fingers  on  the  throbbing  pulse  and  pointing 
to  the  two  red  spots  that  glowed  like  coals  of  fire 
on  the  cheeks  but  now  so  ghastly,  said  :  "Brain- 
fever  of  the  gravest  type  !  I  feared  as  much." 

Then  followed  days  of  anxious  nursing  ;  the 
patient  sometimes  raving  wildly  for  hours  to 
gether,  and  then  sinking  back  exhausted  in  a 
state  of  stupor.  Strange  indeed  were  the  revela 
tions  that  came  from  these  incoherent  wanderings. 
The  name  that  was  always  on  the  lips  of  the  poor 
stranger  was  the  same  that  was  so  graven  in 
Marcia' s  heart,  that  neither  time  nor  absence  had 
power  to  efface  it ;  and  as  she  listened,  while  the 
fevered  dreamings  of  the  stricken  girl  before  her 
bore  her  back  over  the  weary  past,  she  could  not 
doubt  that  she  was  Kenneth's  "maiden  of  Drach- 
enfels" — the  wife  whose  existence  had  cast  such 
a  desolating  blight  over  the  future  that  had 
seemed  opening  so  brightly  for  her.  What 
strange  fate  had  brought  her  hither,  Marcia  could 
not  imagine  ;  nor  as  yet  had  there  been  a  lucid 
interval  in  which  she  could  ask  the  question. 
Scene  after  scene,  fancy  after  fancy,  crowded 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  299 

upon  the  disordered  "brain  with  ever-changing 
rapidity.  The  fatal  marriage  ;  the  father's  death  ; 
the  long  waiting  for  the  lover  who  never  came  ; 
the  mother's  cruel  words ;  the  flight ;  all  were 
enacted  so  vividly,  as  to  leave  nothing  to  conjec 
ture.  And  then  came  wanderings,  as  in  the  busy 
streets  of  a  crowded  city,  strangely  intermingled 
with  green  hills  and  rushing  torrents ;  the  ship  ; 
the  storm.  And  worn  out,  the  poor  sufferer 
would  sink  into  a  fitful  slumber. 

But  one  morning,  when  Marcia  was  as  usual 
seated  "by  the  "bedside,  the  blue  eyes  turned  to 
her  with  a  glimmer  of  returning  consciousness  ; 
the  parched  lips  moved ;  and  bending  over,  she 
distinguished  the  almost  inarticulate  words  : 

"Who  are  you  ?    How  came  I  here ? " 

"  I  am  your  friend  ;  your  sister.  But  you  have 
been  very  ill,  and  must  ask  no  more  now,"  said 
Marcia  gently ;  for  her  heart  was  too  noble  to 
feel  anything  but  the  tenderestlove  and  sympathy 
for  the  young  girl,  who  had  evidently  known  such 
deep  sorrow. 

"Ah!  I  remember  now!"  and  a  wild  gleam 
again  shot  through  the  wandering  eyes.  "The 
storm  !  the  wreck !  Oh,  the  cruel  waves !  why 
did  they  spare  me  ? " 


300  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

"Hush  !  "  said  Marcia  solemnly.  "  It  was  the 
dear,  good  Lord  that  saved  you.  Do  not  question 
His  mercy  and  love ;  but  compose  yourself,  and 
you  will  soon  be  strong  and  well." 

The  poor  girl  slowly  shook  her  head,  but  re 
mained  so  quiet,  that  when  the  doctor  came  he 
was  astonished  at  her  improvement ;  though  he 
told  Marcia  not  to  hope  too  much  from  it,  as  in 
brain-diseases,  an  interval  of  consciousness  was 
often  but  the  prelude  of  dissolution.  The  favorable 
change,  however,  continued  throughout  the. day; 
but  the  next  morning  her  pulse  began  to  fail  so 
rapidly,  that,  drawing  Marcia  aside,  the  doctor 
told  her  to  prepare  for  the  worst.  As  soon  as  he 
had  gone,  Hilda  (for  so  we  may  now  call  her) 
called  Marcia  to  her,  and  said  calmly  : 

"My  friend,  I  know  all,  I  am  dying!  Is  it 
not  so  3 " 

A  burst  of  tears  was  her  only  answer,  and  she 
continued : 

"Do  not  cry!  I  am  content.  It  is  better  so  : 
I  will  be  at  rest,  and  he  will  be  free !  "  And  a 
sweet  smile  stole  over  her  face. 

After  this  a  silence  followed,  broken  only  by 
the  sobs  that  Marcia  could  not  repress.  But  at 
length  Hilda  spoke  again. 


EBON  AND  GOLD.     .  301 

"  My  friend,"  said  she,  taking  her  hand,  "  I 
have  a  request  to  make  of  you.  There  is  one  in 
the  world  who  ought  to  know  my  fate.  Promise 
me,  that  when  I  am  gone,  you  will  try  to  discover 
him,  and  let  him  know  what  I  am  about  to  tell 
you.' 

With  a  heart  too  full  for  words,  Marcia  could 
only  press  the  cold,  damp  hand  she  held,  and 
listen  with  an  emotion  that  cannot  be  de 
scribed,  while  Hilda,  in  broken  sentences,  told 
her  what  we  have  already  heard  ; — of  Kenneth  ; 
the  marriage  and  her  flight ;  adding,  that  when 
she  left  her  home,  she  made  her  way  to  the  only 
relative  she  possessed,  an  aunt  by  marriage.  Her 
first  husband  had  been  the  brother  of  Hilda's 
father,  and  she  received  her  kindly ;  and  indig 
nant  at  the  Frau  Waldmar's  unfeeling  conduct, 
and  not  putting  much  faith  in  the  marriage,  she 
willingly  agreed  to  conceal  her  both  from  her 
mother  and  her  lover.  Her  aunt  had  a  daughter, 
bearing  the  same  name  and  of  about  the  same  age 
as  Hilda,  who  was  in  failing  health  ;  on  account 
of  which,  it  was  resolved  to  visit  the  little  village 
before  described,  in  the  hope  that  she  might  be 
benefited  by  the  waters  of  the  neighboring  Spa. 
Hilda,  who  for  greater  security  had  taken  her 


302  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

aunt's  name,  "being  known  only  as  Bertha  Muller, 
the  villagers  naturally  mistook  her  for  the  daugh 
ter,  and  the  daughter  for  the  niece ;  a  mistake 
which  Frau  Muller  never  thought  it  worth  while 
to  correct.  And  when  at  last  her  poor  cousin  died, 
they  went  at  once  to  the  city,  where,  as  we  have 
seen,  Kenneth  at  one  time  very  nearly  discovered 
her.  Uneasy  and  alarmed  at  his  visit,  and  feel 
ing  her  tenure  of  life  very  precarious,  Frau  Muller 
determined  to  go  into  Switzerland,  where  she  had 
relatives  whom  she  had  hoped  might  befriend 
Hilda  in  case  of  her  death.  Unhappily  she  died 
on  the  way;  and  the  good  priest  who  was  with 
her  in  her  last  moments  found  Hilda  a  home  with 
the  kind  frau  in  the  chalet,  where  J.ennie  first 
discovered  her ;  and  here  she  lived  peacefully 
enough,  until  chance  revealed  to  her  that  the 
beautiful  American  lady  (as  she  called  Jennie) 
knew  Kenneth.  Then  the  poor,  hunted  creature 
felt  compelled  to  fly  again  ;  ever  true  to  the  im 
pulse  to  hide  herself,  that  she  might  not  be  a 
stumbling-block  in  the  path  of  the  one  she  loved 
so  entirely  and  so  unselfishly.  It  happened  that 
just  at -this  time  there  was  a  lady  at  the  inn  who 
was  anxious  to  secure  some  one  to  take  charge  of 
her  children.  She  had  been  abroad  for  several 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  3Q3 

years,  and  was  about  returning  to  her  home  in 
Jamaica  ;  and  as  Hilda  readily  agreed  to  accom 
pany  her,  they  departed  at  once ;  so  that  when 
Jennie  returned  to  the  chalet,  she  found  her 
protegee  gone,  without  leaving  a  trace  behind  her. 
At  ISTew  York  they  took  passage  on  the  vessel 
whose  sad  fate  we  have  already  witnessed ;  and 
now,  after  years  of  wandering,  whose  epitome  of 
sorrow  might  have  made  the  dark  woof  of  a 
long  life,  Kenneth  Murray's  poor  young  wife  lay 
dying  in  the  house — nay,  in  the  arms  of  the 
woman  he  loved. 

When  she  finished  this  recital,  she  was  greatly 
exhausted  ;  and  Marcia  could  only  repeat  her  as 
surance  -that  Kenneth  should  hear  all;  sending 
hastily  for  Father  Baptiste,  who  came  without 
delay  and  administered  the  last  rites  of  the 
church,  which  Hilda  received  with  touching 
humility  and  devotion.  Then  turning  to  Marcia 
with  a  bright  smile,  she  said : 

"Tell  Kenneth  that  my  last  thought  was  of 
hinij  and  that  I  was  so  glad  to  die  and  leave  him 
free  to  marry  some  grand  lady,  more  worthy  of 
him  than  poor  little  Hilda." 

And  she  fell  asleep,  and  awoke  no  more  till  the 


304:  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

shadows  of  life  had  merged  into  the  glorious  sun 
shine  of  eternity. 

Marcia  mourned  tenderly  the  pure  young  life 
cast  up  to  her,  as  it  were,  a  waif  from  the  mighty 
ocean,  and  dwelt  reverently  on  the  memory  of  a 
love  so  free  from  earthly  taint,  so  devoted,  and 
BO  entirely  forgetful  of  self.  She  rejoiced  that  she 
had  been  permitted  to  soothe  the  last  moments  of  a 
life  which,  though  so  brief,  had  known  so  much 
of  suffering,  and  felt  that,  in  receiving  Hilda,  she 
had  indeed  entertained  an  angel  unwares.  She 
would  not  consign  her  to  the  gloomy  vault  where 
mouldered  the  remains  of  her  own  stern  ancestors, 
but  made  her  a  grave  in  the  sunniest  nook  of  the 
little  churchyard,  and  there  the  weary  wanderer 
took  her  dreamless  rest,  where  the  grass  grew 
ever  green,  and  the  flowers  ever  bloomed,  and  the 
birds  ever  sang  their  sweetest  songs  above  her. 


" '  O  maiden  mine ! ' 

He  said,  '  I  pluck  for  thee  a  bud  so  fair, 
That  had  it  grown  in  any  Eastern  clime, 
Where  love  is  writ  in  flowers  instead  of  rhyme, 
And  were  it  folded,  thus,  within  thy  hand, 
Mayhap  a  woman's  wit  would  understand 
That  her  returning  lover  hies  to  bring 
At  last,  though  parted  long,  her  wedding-ring  !  " 

J 

I  HE  weeks  that  had  elapsed  since  Hilda's 
death  were  fast  merging  into  months,  and 
the  noon  of  a  tropical  summer  was  crown 
ing  with  glory  and  filling  with  perfume  the 
"beautiful  land  of  flowers ;  perfect  days  were  suc 
ceeded  by  perfect  nights,  in  which  the  noon's  sil 
very  radiance  outrivalled  even  the  sun's  golden 
splendors,  and  the  tuneful  mocking-bird  made 
hill  and  vale  vocal  with  his  delicious  melodies. 
Undeterred  by  false  scruples,  and  trusting  implic 
itly  to  a  love  that  had  been  so  sorely  tried,  Marcia 


306  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

had  written  at  once  to  Kenneth,  as  Hilda  had  re 
quested  ;  enclosing  the  letter  to  Paul,  and  asking 
him  to  ascertain,  if  possible,  Kenneth's  address, 
and  post  it  to  him.  In  reply  to  this,  Paul  had 
stated  that  it  would  be  almost  impossible  to  dis 
cover  Kenneth's  whereabouts,  as  he  was  a  com 
plete  bird  of  passage,  never  locating  himself  for 
more  than  a  day  or  two  in  one  spot ;  but  that  he 
had  forwarded  the  letter  to  the  banker  to  whom 
he  was  obliged  to  apply,  from  time  to  time,  for 
funds ;  and  he  closed  by  urging  Marcia  to  return  to 
them  without  delay.  The  same  mail  brought  one 
of  Lottie's  closely  written  epistles,  earnestly  mak 
ing  the  same  request,  and  adding  that  her  father  and 
mother  were  expected  home  early  in  September, 
and  that  it  would  be  such  a  pleasure  for  them  to 
find  an  unbroken  household  waiting  to  welcome 
them. 

"If,"  shecontinued,  "wecould  induce  Jennie  to 
come  too,  our  happiness  would  be  complete.  But 
poor  Jennie !  O  Marcia !  I  would  not  like  to 
give  expression  to  all  my  fears  and  dreads  for  her. 
"When  she  was  first  married,  her  letters  were  bright 
and  gay  enough — the  ever-shifting  scenes  of  travel 
furnishing  material  for  any  number  of  amusing, 
entertaining  -pages.  But  now  since  she  has  ex- 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  307 

hausted  the  description  of  her  home  and  its  sur 
roundings  (which,  by  the  way,  must  be  a  perfect 
fairyland),  and  has  been  forced  to  fall  back  on  her 
own  personal  experiences,  we  seldom  get  more 
than  a  very  few  lines  from  her,  and  even  these  are 
forced  and  unnatural,  as  if  she  were  afraid  to  give 
her  thoughts  and  feelings  vent.  She  never  speaks 
of  having  seen  any  one,  or  of  giving  or  attend 
ing  any  of  those  entertainments  of  which  she  so 
often  talked,  and  I  am  convinced  that  Castlemar's 
jealousy  has  cropped  out,  as  I  always  predicted  it 
would  ;  that  her  fairy  palace  is  no  better  than  a 
gloomy  prison  ;  and  if  her  ogre  of  a  husband  does 
not  actually  keep  her  under  lock  and  key,  he  at 
least  totally  secludes  her  from  the  society  she  is  so 
fitted  to  enjoy  and.  adorn." 

*  '  Poor  Jennie  !'  '  sighed  Marcia.  '  '  And  yet,  for 
tunately,  Lottie  does  not  know  what  great  reason 
there  is  to  tremble  for  her  happiness;"  and  her 
thoughts  reverted  to  that  memorable  evening  in 
the  library  at  Glen  Eden. 

Then  she  resumed  her  letter,  never  pausing  till 
she  had  devoured  every  word,  even  to  the  follow 
ing  characteristic  postscript  inserted  by  Fred  : 


MAECIA,  —  Please  return  at  once,  if  you 


308  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

do  not  wish  to  witness  the  utter  ruin  of  my  domes 
tic  bliss.  Lottie  is  so  disconsolate  over  your  pro 
longed  absence,  that  she  has  actually  become  poet 
ical,  calling  herself  a  wingless  bird,  a  stringless 
harp,  and  I  know  not  what  other  specimen  of  dil 
apidation  ;  and  as  I  cannot  follow  her  in  these  Par 
nassian  nights,  I  rely  upon  your  coming,  to  bring 
her  down  to  terra  firma  and  to  me." 

Marcia  laughed  merrily  as  she  concluded,  and 
then  her  face  assumed  a  softer  expression.  It  was 
so  sweet  to  be  thus  fondly  loved  and  faithfully  re 
membered  !  In  the  absence  of  nearer  ties,  Lottie 
was  as  dear  to  her  as  an  only  cherished  sister ;  while 
Aunt  Lucia  was  enshrined  in  her  heart  of  hearts, 
as  the  loveliest  and  best  of  mothers.  She  was  sin 
cerely  attached  to  her  beautiful  Florida  home,  and 
here  she  had  learned,  for  the  first  time,  what  hap 
piness,  even  under  the  most  painful  circumstances, 
can  spring  from  the  performance  of  duty.  But  she 

* 

yearned  for  these  loved  ones,  and  she  was  so  in 
tently  revolving  in  her  mind  the  practicability  of 
a  visit  to  them,  that  she  did  not  hear  the  clatter  of 
hoofs,  and  Louis  Clayton  and  his  sister  were  al 
ready  at  the  very  door,  when  she  was  aroused  by 
Blanche's  merry  voice  saying  : 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  309 

"  Good-morning,  Fairy  Queen  !  You  look  so 
bewitchiugin  your  floral  bower,  that  it  really  seems 
a  pity  to  disturb  you  ;  but  we  have  come  expressly 
to  take  you  off  for  a  ride  with  us." 

Marcia  was  seated  on  the  veranda,  completely 
surrounded  by  clustering  vines;  and  Blanche's 
salutation  did  not  seem  inappropriate,  and  cer 
tainly  Louis  Clayton  thought  that  no  fairy  queen 
could  be  more  charming,  as,  taking  off  his  hat,  he 
said  eagerly : 

"  I  hope  that  your  Majesty  will  be  propitious  ; 
for  I  fear  that  we  could  not  bear  a  refusal  very 
graciously." 

"Indeed  you  need  not  apprehend  one,"  re 
joined  Marcia.  "But  as  a  queen  is  always  sup 
posed  to  be  at  liberty  to  make  conditions,  I  will 
go,  provided  you  return  and  spend  the  rest  of  the 
day  with  me." 

' '  Nay ! ' '  said  Blanche.  ' '  Not  this  time.  Mam 
ma  said,  only  yesterday,  that  she  was  going  to  pro 
test  against  this  monopoly  of  visits,  for  Louis  and 
I  either  dine,  sup,  or  lunch  with  you  five  days  out 
of  the  seven,  and  it  is  a  rare  favor  to  secure  you 
for  a  meal  at  the  '  Dell.'  So  she  gave  us  positive 
instructions  to  bring  you  home  with  us,  and  I  have 
likewise  a  message  for  Mrs.  Grey,  who  has  for  some 


310  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

time  been  promising  to  come  over  and  assist 
mamma  in  arranging  her  herbarium,  and  mamma 
will  be  delighted  if  she  can  make"  it  convenient  to 
come  to-day.  Papa,  too,  returned  from  San  Augus 
tine,  last  night,  and  you  know  he  considers  you  a 
paragon  !  " 

"  Thank  him  ! "  said  Marcia,  "  for  I  suppose  he 
means  to  be  complimentary ;  but  my  idea  of  a  par 
agon  is  a  prim  old  maid,  with  a  mouth  of  the 
prunes,  plums,  prisms  order.  However,  as  it  is 
said  that  an  appeal  to  a  woman' s  vanity  is  irresist 
ible,  and  I  do  not  pretend  to  be  an  exception  to 
my  sex,  you  may  consider  that  the  assurance  of 
your  father's  good  opinion  has  carried  the  day. 
But  you  must  dismount,  while  I  order  my  horse, 
and  change  this  airy  muslin  for  a  more  appropri 
ate  riding-costume ;  I  will  likewise  deliver  your 
message  to  Mrs.  Grey,  and  I  think  you  may  be 
sure  of  her  acceptance." 

Marcia  descended  in  a  very  short  time,  fully 
equipped,  and  they  were  soon  cantering  briskly 
down  the  avenue,  as  merry  a  party  as  one  might 
wish  to  meet.  A  crowd  of  sable  retainers  had  as 
sembled  around  the  corner  of  the  house,  to  see 
them  off :  a  proceeding  which  they  seemed  to  con 
sider  an  essential  part  of  the.  programme,  as,  al- 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  311 

though  the  rides  were  of  daily  occurrence,  they 
never,  by  any  possibility,  omitted  it. 

"Ain't  dey  a  sight  fur  sore  eyes?"  said  Aunt 
Phillis  exultantly.  "Bar's  Marse  Louis.  He's 
as  handsome  as  de  nex'  one ;  gemman,  ebry  inch 
of  him,  born  an'  bred.  I  know  dem  Claytons  root 
an'  branch.  An'  Miss  Blanche:  she's  purty 'nuff 
fur  any  kind  o'  use,  though  ub  course,  she  can't 
be'spected  to  hole  a  can'le  to  my  young  miss, 
bress  her  heart !  Dar  she  goes,  wid  her  long  fed- 
der  a-flyin',  a-settin'  as  straight  as  a  born  princess, 
and  a-lookin'  as  proud  as  ole  miss  he' self,  an'  as 
soft  an'  as  sweet  as  her  own  poor  blessed  mud- 
der." 

"  Hope  Miss  Marshy '11  gib  me  dat  fedder  when 
she's  done  got  tired  ub  warin'  it,"  said  Letty ; 
"wouldn't  I  take  de  shine  out  o'  dem  Clayton 
niggers  one  time." 

"Lor',  chile  !  ain't  yer  'shamed  yerself  ? "  ejacu 
lated  Chloe.  "It  beats  my  time  how  covertous 
some  pussons  is.  Now  I  nebber  '  spires  to  Miss 
Marshy' s  fedders  ;  all  I'se  done  sot  my  eyes  on,  am 
dat  striped  silk  o'  hern, — an'  Lor'  !  how  'jiced  I 
was,  when  Marse  Louis  sot  his  foot  on  de  flounce 
dat  time.  Ses  I,  '  Chloe,  chile,  yer  day' s  mos' 


312  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

"Shut  yer  moufs  ! "  interrupted  Aunt  Phillis in 
dignantly,  "  if  ye  can't  make  no  better  use  o'  dem. 
'Pears  to  me,  dat  you  and  Letty  am  like  de  pot 
an'  de  kettle,  and  you  is  "bof  as  brack  as  you  can 
well  be.  I'd  thank  my  Maker  ef  I  was  as  sartain 
sure  ub  gwine  to  glory,  as  I  be  dat  Miss  Marshy' 11 
gib  ye  triflin'  niggas  all  yer  worf,  an'  a  heap  more 
too.  Precious  little  you'd  git  ef  she  didn't." 

"  Dat's  de  troof,"  said  Jefferson,  taking  this  op 
portunity  to  chime  in  ;  "missy's  han'  am  allers  in 
her  pocket.  'Pears  like  she  can't  say  no  when 
a  pusson  axes  her.  Wonder  what  she'll  say  to 
Marse  Louis  ? "  added  he  parenthetically,  with  a 
doubtful  glance  at  Aunt  Phillis. 

"  Thomas  Jefferson  !  "  retorted  that  individual, 
with  dignity;  "jes'  min'  yer  own  business,  an' 
you'll  have  'nuff  to  do.  It's  'sponsibility  'nuff  fur 
a  nigga  like  you,  to  drive  missy's  carriage  an' 
take  keer  o'  her  hosses  ;  an'  I '  spec  her  an  Marse 
Louis' 11  'scuse  you  from  'ten din'  to  dar  private  an' 
puss'nal  'fairs.  Bar's  nuffin'  strange  ef  all  de 
young  gemmen  fall  in  love  wid  missy ;  but  dat 
don't  'bleege  her  to  take  up  along  o'  ebry  one  as 
runs  arter  her."  And  the  old  woman  waddled  off 
with  all  the  importance  consistent  with  her  some 
what  elephantine  proportions. 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  313 

Still  the  idea  of  a  marriage  between  her  two  fa 
vorites  was  not  displeasing  to  her,  nor  was  she  the 
only  one  to  whom  this  seemed  a  consummation 
devoutly  to  "be  wished.  Nothing  would  have 
given  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clayton  greater  delight ;  to 
have  Marcia  for  a  sister  was  Blanche's  dearest 
wish ;  and  as  for  Louis,  his  sentiments  were  patent 
to  all.  Marcia,  alone,  had  never  thought  of  any 
thing  of  the  kind,  and  did  not  dream  that  Louis  en 
tertained  for  her  more  than  a  friendly  regard.  So 
she  rode  along  by  his  side,- chatting  freely,  and  en 
joying  the  delicious  morning  without  restraint  -r  and 
never  had  she  been  more  lovely,  nor  her  compan 
ionship  more  dangerous.  The  exhilarating  exer 
cise  not  only  imparted  a  tinge  of  color  to  her 
cheeks,  but  inspired  her  with  a  most  unusual 
gayety.  During  the  entire  day  at  the  "Dell,"  her 
unwonted  spirits  did  not  forsake  her,  and  she  en 
tered  into  everything  with  a  zest  even  more  sur 
prising  to  her  herself  than  to  her  friends.  She 
joked  with  Mr.  Clayton,  sang  for  Louis,  and  chat 
ted  with  Mrs.  Clayton  and  Blanche,  till  she  seemed 
like  a  different  being ;  and  it  was  not  until  after 
dinner,  when  she  was  seated  on  the  veranda  with 
her  two  young  friends,  watching  the  cool  evening 
shadows,  as  they  crept  refreshingly  over  the  land- 

14 


314:  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

scape,  that  she  thought  of  reverting  to  her  letters, 
and  the  half-formed  determination  they  had  in 
duced.  They  had  been  sitting  for  some  minutes, 
silently  enjoying  the  tranquil  beauty  of  the  scene, 
when  she  exclaimed : 

"  Florida  is  indeed  a  lovely  country,  and  well  de 
serves  its  name.  I  shall  regret  to  leave  it." 

"Leave  Florida!"  exclaimed  Louis,  and  his 
instant  pallor  and  agitated  manner  filled  Harcia 
with  a  sudden  and  unwelcome  suspicion,  which 
she  strove  at  once  to  banish,  as  she  continued : 

"Yes,  such  was  the  engrossing  subject  of  my 
meditations  when  you  came  upon  me  this  morn 
ing.  I  had  just  received  letters  from  my  cousins, 
pleading  so  urgently  for  my  return,  that  I  don't 
think  I  can  resist  them.  However,  my  plans  are 
yet  vague  and  indefinite  ;  for  I  have  not  even 
spoken  to  Mrs.  Grey  on  the  matter." 

"But  you  will  come  back?"  asked  Louis 
eagerly. 

"  I  certainly  hope  to  do  so,"  said  Marcia.  "  My 
home  here  is  too  lovely,  and  I  am  too  sincerely  at 
tached  to  it,  to  be  willing  to  expatriate  myself  en 
tirely." 

"Do  you  know,  Marcia,"  said  Blanche,  speak 
ing  for  the  first  time,  "that  I  am  positively  jealous 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  315 

of  these  Northern  friends  of  yours.  I  wish  you 
had  never  left  here  ;  for  then  we  would  have  had- 
the  first  claim  to  you,  and  no  one  could  have  dis 
puted  it.  But  what  are  we  going  to  do  without 
you  ?  Louis  looks  disconsolate  already  ;  I  am 
afraid  to  picture  my  desolation ;  and,  of  course, 
papa  and  mamma  will  "be  miserable,  when  they  see 
us  so." 

"  Indeed,"  said  Marcia,  and  there  was  a  tremor 
in  her  voice,  as  she  spoke,  "I  am  more  touched 
than  you  can  imagine  at  this  evidence  of  your  af 
fection.  But  I  tremble  to  think  what  I  might  have 
become,  if  my  dear,  kind  uncle  had  not  found  me 
out,  and  taken  charge  of  me.  I  am  afraid  that  even 
you  would  not  have  found  my  companionship  de- 
'  sirable." 

And  they  talked  on,  till  the  moon  had  fairly 
arisen,  and  Mrs.  Grey  announced  that  it  was  time 
to  return  home,  when  Louis  accompanied  them, 
remaining  silent  and  abstracted  ;  for  Marcia' s  de 
termination,  so  carelessly  announced,  had  checked 
his  rising  hopes,  and  he  told  himself  that  if  she  were 
indeed  beginning  to  loye  him,  as  encouraged  by 
her  kindly  manner  and  her  returning  cheerful 
ness  he  had  dared  to  dream,  she  could  not  have 


316  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

spoken  so  composedly  of  a  separation,  the 
thought  of  which  fell  so  crushingly  on  him. 

Marcia,  too,  was  sorely  troubled.  The  bare  sus 
picion  that  Louis  entertained  such  feelings  towards 
her  distressed  her  greatly,  for  in  these  months  of 
free,  unrestrained  intercourse  she  had  learned  to 
look  upon  him  almost  as  a  brother ;  and  before 
she  retired  that  night,  she  resolved  that  she 
would  consult  Mrs.  Grey  at  once,  and  that  she 
would  make  her  arrangements  to  go  north  with 
out  delay.  That  dear,  good  old  lady  was  always 
willing  to  accede  to  anything  that  Marcia  desired  ; 
but  it  happened  that  on  this  occasion  nothing 
could  be  more  in  accordance  with  her  own  wishes. 
She  had  an  only  sister  living  in  the  far  west,  whom 
she  had  not  seen  for  many  years,  and  who  for 
some  time  had  been  writing  urgently  to  beg  a 
visit  from  her,  and  she  had  hesitated  only  because 
she  did  not  like  to  leave  Marcia  alone.  So  the 
matter  was  soon  settled,  and  they  had  just  agreed 
finally  to  start  in  two  weeks,  when  in  came 
Blanche,  making  an  unceremonious  entree  as 
usual. 

"Marcia!"  exclaimed  she  impulsively,  plung 
ing  at  once  in  media  res,  "I  have  come  to  make 
you  retract  what  you  said  last  night  about  leaving 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  317 

ns.  How  can  you  look  at  me  and  have  the  heart  to 
do  it  ?  I  am  sure  I  am  haggard,  and  worn,  or,  if  I 
am  not,  I  ought  to  be  ;  for  not  more  than  seven 
hours  out  of  the  eight  that  I  tossed  upon  my  rest 
less  couch,  did  I  close  my  eyes  in  sleep.  Papa  and 
mamma  likewise  are  grain  as  bears  this  morning, 
and  as  for  Louis— it  is  positively  frightful !  There 
is  nothing  on  the  earth  or  in  the  waters  under  the 
earth,  to  which  I  can  liken  him." 

"O  Blanche!  you  are  too  ridiculous!"  said 
Marcia,  laughing.  "  Your  picture  is  truly  melan 
choly.  But  in  fact,  Mrs.  Grey  and  I  were  just 
deciding  to  go  when  you  came  in." 

"Then!"  said  Blanche  tragically,  "I  may  as 
well  order  my  tombstone ;  for  hope  is  already 
dead  within  me,  and  I  shall  soon  fret  away  what 
little  life  is  left  in  this  mortal  frame  when  you  are 
gone.  But  cruel,  inexorable  girl !  will  nothing 
move  you  ?  I  see  that  you  have  no  compassion  on 
our  misery.  But  what  is  to  become  of  your  be 
loved  poor  ?" 

"  I  will  leave  themio  you  and  Father  Baptiste," 
said  Marcia ;  and  assuming  her  friend' s  consent 
quite  as  a  matter  of  course,  they  were  soon  so  in- 
terested^in  discussing  these  poor  dependants,  and 
forming  Dlans  for  their  benefit,  that  time  passed 


318  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

by  unheeded,  and  the  luncheon  hour  had  arrived 
before  they  were  aware  of  it. 

Blanche  left  soon  afterwards,  protesting  that,  as 
she  was  at  last  convinced  of  Marcia's  obstinacy,  it 
was  useless  for  her  to  remain  ;  but  adding,  rather 
inconsistently,  that  she  would  return  on  the  mor 
row,  as  she  intended  to  avenge  herself  for  the 
short  time  left  to  her  by  inflicting  as  much  of  her 
society  on  her  friend  as  possible. 

After  she  had  gone,  Marcia  betook  herself  to  the 
garden.  It  had  always  been  her  refuge  in  all  her 
childish  troubles,  and  there  was  no  spot  on  the 
place,  not  even  the  terrace  that  overlooked  the 
sea,  that  was  half  so  dear  to  her.  Taking  her  fav 
orite  seat  in  full  view  of  the  sun-dial  and  the 
fountain,  she  said  aloud  : 

"Dear  old  garden,  how  I  will  miss  you  ! " 

And  indeed  it  <was  looking  particularly  lovely 
on  this  especial  evening,  presenting,  as  it  did,  a 
perfect  wilderness  of  flowers,  and  an  atmosphere 
so  sweet,  that  it  stole  upon  the  senses  with  almost 
intoxicating  power,  while  over  all  hung  that  sub 
tile,  mysterious  charm  arising  from  the  unconscious 
linking  of  the  present  with  the  past,  that  to  natures 
like  Marcia' s  is  so  eminently  attractive. 

"Sunshine,  fragrance,  and  flowers!"  'said  she 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  319 

softly  to  herself.     "  How  well  I  remember  when  I 
used  to  sit  here,  a  poor,  neglected  child,  and  dream 
that  of  these  would  be  made  up  my  future.    Though 
alone,  I  was  never  lonely,  for  my  own  glowing 
thoughts  and  fancies  were  companions  of  which  I 
never  tired,  and  of  all  the  wild  old  romances  that 
I  so  eagerly  devoured  there  were  none  too  brilliant 
or  impossible  to  take  a  part  in  the  destiny  that  I 
pictured  for  myself.    I  read  of  princes  and  prin 
cesses,  and  imagined  myself  one  of  them.     In  my 
heroine  for  the  time  I  merged  my  individuality 
wholly  and  entirely — and  never  will  I  forget  the 
delight  I  experienced  in  fancying  myself  Rowena, 
and  in  following  my  Ivanhoe  through  his  wander 
ings,  his  reverses,  and  his  triumphs.    After  a  lapse 
of  years  I  came  again  to  my  favorite  haunt,  to  find 
it  indeed    unchanged   but  myself  disenchanted, 
and  no  longer  a  child.    True,  I  had  known  the  sun 
shine,  the  flowers,  and  the  fragrance ;    but  ah ! 
the    sunshine  had  its   clouds,  the  flowers   their 
thorns,  and  the  fragrance,  alas  !  had  vanished  with 
the  withered  hopes  that  lay  scattered  along  my 
path.     I  had  met  my  prince,  nobler,  truer,  purer, 
better,  far,  than  the  most  exalted  creation  of  my 
childhood  ;  but  I  had  met  him  only  to  lose  him  ! 
The  smiling  spring  succeeds  the  wintry  snows  ; 


320  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

the  glorious  dawn,  the  darksome  shades  of  night. 
And  will  not  then  my  life  too  have  its  Orient,  or 
must  I  wait  for  the  light  of  eternity  to  dispel  the 
gloom  that  has  so  long  enshrouded  me  ?  No  !  oh 
no  !  I  shall  see  him  again.  It  is  long— so  long, — 
but  he  will  come  at  last !  My  life  !  my  love  !  " 

And  even  as  she  spoke,  a  shadow  fell  across 
her  path,  a  firm,  broad  hand  clasped  her  own,  and 
a  deep,  fond  voice  murmured  in  her  ear. 
"  Marcia,  my  own !  my  wife  !     I  am  here  !  " 
And  looking  up,  she  exclaimed  : 
"My  Kenneth  !  my  Prince  !  I  knew  you  would 
come!  "  and  in  another  moment  she  was  sobbing 
out  her  happiness  on  his  bosom. 

Then  followed  some  of  those  exquisite  moments, 
having  in  them  more  of  heaven  than  of  earth ; 
gems  from  God's  own  diadem,  vouchsafed  to  mor 
tals  but  once  or  twice  in  a  lifetime.  At  first  it 
was  a  bliss  too  deep  for  words  ;  and  then  speech 
came,  and  there  was  so  much  to  tell :  Kenneth  of 
his  fruitless  wanderings,  and  how  he  had  flown  to 
Marcia  as  soon  as  her  letter  reached  him.  Arid 
then  Marcia  told  of  Hilda,  and  Kenneth  listened, 
and  the  memory  of  the  gentle  girl  seemed  to  hal 
low  and  sanctify  the  reunion  of  the  long- parted 
lovers.  At  last  Marcia  said  : 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  321 

"  But  how  did  you  chance  to  seek  me  here !  " 

"  Mrs.  Grey  directed  me  hither,  "  replied  Ken- 
nenth. 

" Oh  !  "  exclaimed  Marcia,  "I  am  so  glad  that 
my  destiny  came  to  me  in  the  garden — the  dear 
old  garden ! " 

"  And  it  seemed  fitting  that  I  should  find  you 
thus,  embowered  in  loveliness  and  surrounded  by 
flowers,"  said  Kenneth.  "  If  there  were  need  to 
tell  you  of  my  love,  I  would  trust  their  eloquence 
rather  than  my  own,  and  plucking  the  fairest  I 
would  place  them  in  your  hand,  and  bid  them 
speak  for  me." 

And  thus  they  talked  on,  and  the  daylight  had 
quite  faded,  when  at  last  Marcia  proposed  a  return 
to  the  house,  much  to  the  delight  of  Aunt  Phillis, 
who  with  Aunt  Dinah  was  groaning  over  a  ruined 
supper. 

"It's  my  'pinion,"  said  the  old  nurse  confiden 
tially  to  the  latter  worthy,  "dat  Miss  Marshy' s 
prince  done  come  at  las',  an',  Marse  Louis  mout  as 
well  hang  on  de  wilier.  Whenebber  you  sees  de 
white  folks  a-forgittin'  de  warfles  an'  de  batter- 
cakes,  an'  not  keering  ef  de  rolls  an'  de  chickens 
burn  up,  you  kin  lay  yer  life  dar's  love  aroun' 
somewhar  !  "  And  the  old  lady  waddled  off  to 

14* 


322  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

administer  a  gentle  admonition  to  Gustavus  in  the 
dining-room. 

The  next  morning,  Marcia  called  her,  and  for 
mally  presented  Kenneth  to  her. 

"  AuntPhillis,"  said  she,  "here  is  my  prince!" 

The  old  woman  made  him  a  curtsey,  and  then 
drawing  back,  much  to  his  amazement,  deliber 
ately  surveyed  him  from  head  to  foot ;  saying  at 
last : 

"  Well,  massa,  ef  ye' re  as  good  as  ye' re  good- 
lookin',  I  'spec'  you'll  do.  But  de  misfortin'  is  dat 
eb'ry thing  ain't  as  purty  as  it  looks.  We'se  all 
heerd  tell  o'  dem  apples  full  o'  ashes  and  dem 
whitewashed  tombstones.  Not  that  as  I'se  gwine 
to  say  you  is  like  dem.  I  hopes  not.  But,  massa, 
I  done  nussed  and  'tended  Miss  Marshy  sin'  she 
was  a  little  baby,  an'  I'  se  seed  her  growed  up  so 
gran'  an'  beautiful,  dat  I'd  hardly  think  one  ub 
de  Lord's  own  angels  was  good  'nuff  fur  her,  an' 
I  must  'fess  dat  I  fears  and  trembles  when  a 
stranger  what  I  don't  know  'nuffin  'bout  comes 
an'  axes  fur  her ;  an'  one,  too,  as  wants  to  take 
her  'way  off,  whar  Aunt  Phillis  can't  never  take 
keer  o'  her  nor  'tend  her  no  more  !  "  and  the  tears 
that  she  could  not  restrain  flowed  down  her  ebon 
cheeks. 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  323 

"Aunt  Phillis!"  said  Kenneth  solemnly, 
"  may  God  deal  with  me  as  I  deal  with  your  Miss 
Marcia.  Her  happiness  will  always  be  my  first 
care,  and  she  shall  never  know  a  trouble  that  I 
have  power  to  spare  her.  And  I  do  not  wish  to 
take  her  from  you.  You  must  come  with  us,  and 
every  winter  we  will  bring  you  back,  for  a  few 
months  in  your  Florida  home,  and  I  hope  in  time 
to  convince  you  that  I  am  neither  a  Sodom' s  apple 
nor  a  whited  sepulchre  !  " 

Aunt  Phillis  was  much  pleased  with  this  little 
speech,  and  manifested  her  approbation  by  declar 
ing  that  whatever  else  he  might  be,  she  was 
"  'vinced  dat  Marse  Kenneth  was  a  rale,  sure  'nuff 
gen' man  !  "  But  she  would  not  commit  herself 
on  the  subject  of  accompanying  Marcia,  believing 
firmly  that  everything  would  go  to  destruction 
without  her.  But  when,  yielding  to  Kenneth's 
solicitations,  Marcia  appointed  an  early  day  for 
her  marriage,  and  she  found  that  the  separation 
was  a  rapidly  approaching  reality,  love  for  her 
nursling  overcame  every  other  consideration,  and 
she  determined  to  go  with  her,  keeping  all  the 
servants  in  a  constant  state  of  fermentation  from 
that  time,  and  overwhelming  them  with  such  a 
multiplicity  of  directions,  that  in  her  bewilder- 


324  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

ment  Chloe  protested,  with  a  slight  variation  of  the 
original  text,  that  she  did  not  know  her  head  from 
her  heels. 

In  accordance  with  Marcia's  wishes,  the  bridal 
was  to  "be  a  very  quiet  one.  It  was  to  take  place 
in  the  chapel,  Father  Baptiste  officiating,  as  he 
had  done  at  her  baptism,  and  Blanche  and  Louis, 
who,  convinced  of  the  hopelessness  of  his  love, 
had  struggled  manfully  to  overcome  it,  acting  as 
attendants ;  while  no  one  was  to  be  present  but 
Mrs.  Grey  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clayton,  except,  of 
course,  the  servants.  And  now  the  days  passed 
rapidly  away,  bringing  with  them  the  last  event 
ful  one  ;  and  never  had  a  lovelier  wedding- morn 
dawned  on  a  bride  than  that  which  greeted  Mar- 
eta.  As  if  conscious  that  it  was  a  festal  occasion, 
the  birds  poured  out  their  very  throats  in  a  flood 
of  melody ;  the  grass  looked  its  greenest ;  the 
flowers  their  fairest ;  and  over  all  the  sunshine 
rested  goldenly  like  a  benediction. 

Marcia  stood  at  her  window,  and  gazed  at  all 
this  beauty  with  a  heart  overflowing  with  thank 
fulness.  She  knew  that  this  was  the  great  crisis 
of  her  life  ;  but  she  felt  no  emotion  but  happiness, 
so  calm  and  deep,  that  it  sent  not  a  ripple  to  dis 
turb  her  tranquillity.  Full  of  confidence,  not 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  325 

only  in  the  earthly  love  that  was  henceforth  to  be 
her  shield  and  her  support,  but  in  that  other  and 
greater  Love,  which  had  led  her  so  tenderly  out 
of  darkness  into  light,  she  was  ready  to  enter, 
with  unfaltering  step  and  smiling  lip,  upon  her 
life-pilgrimage.  Blanche  was  far  more  agitated ; 
and  when  she  had  arranged  the  flowing  veil  and 
spotless  wreath,  and  bent  over  to  kiss  her  friend, 
she  was  so  impressed  by  the  radiant  peace  and 
beautiful  serenity  that  beamed  from  her  counte 
nance,  that  she  exclaimed  involuntarily  : 

"O  Marcia  !  I  hope  that  when  my  day  comes, 
I  may  be  as  sure  of  my  future  as  you  are  ! " 

UI  hope  so,  indeed,  my  dear  friend!"  replied 
Marcia;  ubut,"  she  added  dreamily,  "I  fear  the 
world  contains  but  one  Kenneth  !  " 

The  chapel  was  beautifully  decorated  with  flow 
ers,  which  relieved  the  sombre  aspect  usual  to  it. 
Wreaths  of  pure  white  roses  festooned  the  walls 
and  garlanded  the  windows ;  the  altar  was  a  mass 
of  lights  and  flowers,  and  extending  from  it  al 
most  to  the  ceiling  was  a  cross  of  lilies  inter 
spersed  with  lights ;  while  directly  over  the  spot 
where  the  young  couple  were  to  stand,  brooded  a 
snowy  dove,  exquisitely  fashioned  of  spotless 
rose-buds.  The  poor  school- children,  who  had 


326  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

been  Marcia'  s  especial  care,  met  the  bridal  party 
at  the  door,  preceding  them  up  the  aisle,  and 
strewing  their  path  with  flowers,  while  their  fresh 
young  voices  rang  out  sweet  and  clear  in  a  joyful 
hymn. 

But  at  length  it  was  all  over — the  wedding,  the 
feasting,  and  the  parting ;  and  Marcia  rolled 
through  the  great  gates  once  more  ;  not  as  form 
erly,  a  trembling  child  living  in  the  future,  and 
half  welcoming  yet  half  dreading  the  world  be 
fore  her,  but  a  loving,  trusting  bride  with  her 
world  beside  her,  and  encircled  by  a  present  so 
bright,  that  its  glorious  halo  absorbed  not  only 
the  future,  but  the  past. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

.  .    .  .  "  Until  the  hour  of  death, 
Whatever  road  man  chooses,  Fate 
Still  holds  him  subject  to  her  breath. 
Spun  of  all  silks,  our  days  and  nights 
Have  sorrows  woven  with  delights ; 
And  of  this  intermingled  shade 
Our  various  destiny  appears, 
Even  as  one  sees  the  course  of  yeara 
Of  summers  and  of  winters  made." 

i 

FTER  a  lapse  of  ten  busy,  changeful  years, 
we  must  ask  our  readers  to  go  with  us  once 
more  to  the  Ivy.  It  is  Kenneth' s  birthday, 
and  he  is  celebrating  it ;  not  with  a  brilliant  fete 
as  he  did  on  a  former  occasion,  which  we  all  re 
member,  but,  as  he  says,  with  a  gathering  of  the 
clan  ;  and  we  must  take  a  look  at  our  old  friends 
and  see  how  time  has  dealt  with  them.  In  that 
gentleman  whose  hair  is  scarcely  silvered,  though 
we  can  discern  here  and  there  an  incipient  trace 
of  Time's  frostwork,  we  recognize  Mr.  Elmore  ; 


328  EBON  AND  GOLD. 

and  by  his  side  is  Aunt  Lucia,  gentle  and  loving 
as  ever,  and  looking  almost  as  young  as  when 
we  first  made  her  acquaintance.  They  have  evi- 
"bently  been  made  the  umpires  of  a  foot-race  that 
is  in  progress  between  two  fine,  sturdy-looking 
boys,  aged  respectively  nine  and  ten,  and  are 
watching  it  with  great  interest.  The  foremost  of 
these  contestants,  with  fair  locks  flowing  on  the 
wind,  is  Kenneth,  junior ;  and  as  he  reaches  the 
goal,  and  looks  around  flushed  and  triumphant, 
he  turns  to  us  his  father's  handsome  face,  though 
the  dark  eyes  are  his  mother's  own.  His  com 
panion  is  Lottie' s  only  son  and  her  father' s  name 
sake,  and  with  his  short,  thick  brown  curls  and 
roguish  face,  he  looks  one  to  be  proud  of.  He 
bears  his  defeat  good-naturedly,  and  only  laughs 
merrily  when  his  mother,  still  a  girlish  matron, 
though  a  trifle  stouter  than  when  we  saw  her 
last,  tells  him  he  must  get  a  pair  of  the  famous 
seven-league  boots  before  he  ventures  to  run  with 
Kenneth  again. 

But  who  are  these  fairy-like  little  creatures  with 
long,  golden  curls,  eyes  like  twin  violets,  and 
cheeks  and  brows  that  outshine  the  lily  and  the 
rose?  Even  their  dresses  are  alike,  and  their 
ribbons  and  tiny  blue  shoes ;  and  indeed  it  would 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  309 

require  a  mother's  eye  to  distinguish  between 
them.  But  they  look  so  dainty,  we  must  ask  a 
formal  introduction.  Ah  !  they  are  Misses  Lucia 
and  Christabel  Elmore,  Paul's  twin  daughters, 
and  they  tell  us  that  they  were  six  years  old  yes 
terday.  Bending  over  them  with  the  incipient 
gallantry  inherent  in  his  race,  his  brunette 
complexion,  jetty  locks,  and  large  black  eyes, 
in  striking  contrast  to  themselves,  is  little  Eugene 
Castlemar,  Jennie's  son,  and  his  grandma's  es 
pecial  darling.  Near  by  is  Jennie  herself,  watch 
ing  the  trio  with  an  expression  of  loving  tender 
ness  that  so  hallows  and  softens  her  face,  that, 
although  thinner  and  paler  than  we  have  ever 
known  her,  she  appears  even  more  beautiful  than 
ever.  Years  ago  she  came  back  to  the  old  home, 
a  widow,  bringing  with  her  her  child,  then  a 
mere  infant,  now  a  boy  of  eight.  She  had  evi 
dently  suffered,  and  deeply.  But  her  sorrows 
and  trials  remained  a  sealed  book  even  to  those 
nearest  to  her.  Her  husband  was  dead,  and  she 
would  not  recall  the  past,  or  cast  a  shadow  on  his 
memory.  Now  she  is  once  more  herself,  and  has 
regained  all  her  cheerfulness,  though  not,  perhaps, 
her  old  flow  of  spirits ;  and  though  she  still  wears 
her  mourning  dress,  she  is  to  cast  it  aside  in  a  few 


330  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

months,  to  become  at  last  the  wife  of  Clifford 
Aubrey,  who  has  just  been  returned  as  Senator 
from  his  adopted  State.  Standing  beside  her  is 
Christabel,  her  face  aglow  with  maternal  pride  and 
tenderness  as  deep  as  Jennie's  own  ;  and  from  the 
lively  sallies  that  she  makes  from  time  to  time, 
we  can  see  that  she  is  as  light-hearted  and  fun- 
loving  as  ever. 

But  where  are  the  pater  familias  all  this  time? 
And  Marcia,  our  own  Marcia?  Ah!  here  they 
are !  we  have  found  them  at  last.  And  you  must 
bear  in  mind  that  Fred  is  a  judge  ;  Paul,  a  chan 
cellor  ;  and  Kenneth  ! — Ah!  Kenneth  is  Marcia' s 
Husband !  And  rumor  says  he  might,  if  he  chose, 
give  a  name  to  a  certain  unknown  author,  whose 
works  are  creating  a  profound  sensation  on  both 
sides  of  the  Atlantic.  Well !  we  have  surprised 
all  these  honorables  in  the  childish  sport  of  play 
ing  tea-party,  and  Marcia  is  looking  on  well 
pleased.  There  is  the  miniature  table,  with  its 
snowy  cloth  and  tiny  dishes,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
stores  of  ' '  good  things ' '  so  temptingly  displayed. 
But  we  are  most  interested  in  the  presiding  genii 
of  the  little  feast.  That  pretty,  well-behaved 
young  miss  is  Lottie,  junior.  Fred  would  have  it 
so,  though  Lottie  protests  that  she  is  entirely  too 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  331 

proper  to  "be  named  for  her.  And  then  there  are 
a  pair  of  Marcias.  The  one,  a  roguish  elf,  the 
counterpart  of  her  mischievous  mamma,  we  easily 
recognize  as  Lottie's  second  daughter ;  and  need 
we  ask  who  is  the  lovely  little  creature  presiding 
over  the  teapot  and  sugar-bowl  with  so  much 
childish  dignity  ?  Kenneth' s  eyes,  sparkling  with 
pride  and  misty  with  tenderness,  would  tell  us, 
even  if  we  did  not  recognize  the  pure,  fair  face 
with  its  dreamy  eyes,  classic  features,  and  raven 
tresses. 

"  You  shall  'pour  out ;'  sometime,"  said  she 
to  her  little  companions.  "But  mamma  said  I 
might  to-day,  because  it  was  mine  and  dear  papa's 
birthday ; ''  and  then  mamma  and  papa  and 
Uncle  Paul  and  Uncle  Fred  were  served  with  an 
easy  grace,  that  rendered  her  resemblance  to  her 
mamma  still  more  striking. 

But  what  has  become  of  Dick  and  Nita,  our 
little  irrepressibles  1  Do  you  see  that  tall,  bearded 
young  man,  who  has  just  dismounted  from  his 
horse,  to  be  besieged  by  the  two  racers  with, 

"Uncle  Dick,  please  let  us  ride  Black  Bess 
around  the  circle,  just  once  ? " 

Watch  him  as  he  lifts  them,  one  after  another, 
carefully  into  the  saddle,  and  calling  to  old  James 


332  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

and  Jeffries,  who,  proud  of  the  commission, 
gladly  obey  his  summons,  bids  them  have  an  eye 
on  their  young  masters,  and  wonder  if  this  can 
"be  the  harum-scarum  rogue  we  used  to  know. 
Yes,  it  is  the  very  same,  though  it  is  difficult  to 
recognize  in  this  distinguished  graduate  of  the 
time-honored  University  of  Edinburgh,  this  de 
votee  of  the  ladies,  so  fastidious  in  dress  as 
almost  to  be  liable  to  the  imputation  of  dandyism, 
the  Dick  of  old,  who  sneered  at  girls,,  and  luxuri 
ated  in  nothing  so  much  as  a  well-worn  suit  and  a 
dilapidated  hat.  But  with  all  his  elegance,  he 
seems  destined  to  play  the  part  of  postman  in 
these  pages,  as,  approaching  his  mother  with  the 
salutation :  "What  will  you  give  me  for  a  treat?" 
he  lays  a  letter  in  her  lap  that  makes  her  eyes 
glisten  and  her  cheeks  glow  with  pleasure.  It 
is  a  letter  from  Nita !  But  why  is  she  not  here 
to-day  ?  Because  she  is  now  Mrs.  Louis  Clayton, 
and  with  her  newly-made  husband  is  at  present 
in  Scotland,  visiting  his  sister  Blanche,  who 
has  been  for  two  or  three  years  the  happy  wife 
of  our  old  friend,  Mr.  MacKensie.  In  this  letter 
Mta  describes  their  charming  home  and  domestic 
bliss  in  the  most  glowing  terms,  and  concludes  by 
saying : 


EBON  AND  GOLD.  333 

"But  all  these  attractions  sink  into  insigni 
ficance  before  their  lovely  little  year-old  Marcia, 
whom  her  father  seems  absolutely  to  worship. 
I  tell  Blanche  I  would  protest  against  this,  and 
I  have  even  ventured  to  hint  that  there  may  be 
some  mysterious  attraction  about  the  name.  But 
Blanche  won't  be  made  jealous,  and  I  verily 
believe  she  loves  our  Marcia  quite  as  well  as  her 
husband  does." 

And  there  is  yet  another  group  of  entirely  too 
much  consequence  to  be  slighted!  Gorgeous 
in  a  turban  made  up  of  a  most  impossible  com 
bination  of  colors,  and  a  dress  whose  pattern 
would  delight  the  eye  of  a  Chinese,  Aunt  Phillis 
is  strutting  up  and  down  the  lawn,  bearing  in 
her  arms  Marcia' s  youngest,  her  little  Elrnore, 
a  beautiful  babe  of  four  months  and  the  old 
nurse' s  especial  admiration,  as,  in  truth,  both  the 
others  have  been  in  their  turn.  But  this  young 
gentleman,  having  made  his  appearance  after 
an  interval  of  six  years,  is  considered  entitled 
to  an  unusual  amount  of  homage,  and  Aunt 
Phillis  never  wearies  of  expatiating  on  his  per 
fections  ;  though  it  must  be  confessed  she  has 
at  present  a  very  appreciative  audience  in  the 
person  of  old  dame  Jeffries,  who,  with  cap  and 


334  EBON  AND   GOLD. 

handkerchief  as  immaculate  as  of  yore,  is  likewise 
keeping  guard  upon  the  precious  treasure. 

"Dis  yere  young  Marse  am  none  o'  yer  com 
mon  "babies,"  Aunt  Phillis  is  saying.  "He'll 
twis'  and  turn  wid  de  colic,  till  he  can  stan'  it  no 
longer,  widout  sheddin'  a  tear ;  but,  Lor'  !  when 
he  does  'gin  for  to  cry  !  Sich  lungs !  Yer  never 
heerd  de  like!  But  he's  'havin'  heself  like  a 
man  dis  eb'ning.  He  knows  its  papa's  birf-day  ! 
He  does,  de  bressed  darlin'  !  " 

"  Grod  love  him  !  "  said  the  old  dame.  "  But 
he's  a  bonny  babe.  Een  as  blue  as  the  skies 
in  June,  and  as  like  my  own  bairn's  as  two  peas. 
That  I  should  have  lived  to  nurse  my  boy  Ken 
neth'  s  bairns  upon  my  old  knees !  I  could  die 
happy  now  ! ' ' 

"Lor'  ha'  massy!  Ef  yere  so  happy,  what 
makes  you  talk  'bout  dyin'.  I  never  'tend  to 
'sart  my  Miss  Marshy,  an'  I'se  gwine  to  live  long 
as  dar's  any  one  in  sight.  Leastways  till  de 
Lord  Gabriel  blows  his  horn  !  "  said  Aunt  Phil 
lis,  bending  over  the  "young  Marse,"  who  began 
to  show  symptoms  of  that  unbearable  stage  of 
colic  before  alluded  to. 

But  the  daylight  fades,  and  one  by  one  the 
merry  groups  seek  their  happy  homes  ;  and  when 


EBON  AND   GOLD.  335 

at  last  the  rising  moon  sends  down  her  silvery 
glory  on    the   scene,    Kenneth    and  Marcia    are 
alone.     Side  by  side,  and  hand  in  hand,  they  sit, 
with  hearts  too  full  for  words,  •  thinking  of  the 
many    blessings    scattered  .in    their    path;    and 
thinking  thus,  they  see  how  life's  Ebon  brings 
out  its  Gold,  and  thank  God  for  the  past  trials 
which  have  enabled  them  so  fully  to  appreciate 
their    present    happiness.     Marcia' s    face,    half 
turned  towards  her  husband  and  half  looking 
up  to  the  starry  skies  that  spread  out  so  cloud 
lessly  above  them,  is  as  fair  and  lovely  as  ever, 
and  the  radiant  peace  that  dawned  upon  it  on 
her  wedding-morn  has  never  left  it.      Kenneth's 
glance  is  bent  wholly  on  his  precious  wife,  and 
there    is  a  pure,  devoted  love,   a  hallowed  ten 
derness  in  its  depths,  that  show,  that  for  "them 
indeed  the  years  of  this  decade  have  been  as 
jewels  set  in  a  framework  of  gold,  which,  like  the 
beads  of  a  rosary,  have  passed  away  one  by  one, 
sparkling  with  good  deeds  and  holy  thoughts 
and  lofty  aspirations,  to  be  gathered  again  into 
a  resplendent  diadem,  which  shall  crown  them  for 
all  Eternity ! 

THE  END. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Lot  Angeles 

This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


Form  L9-40m-7,'56(C790s4)444 


THE  LIBRAim 

DIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
LOS  ANGELES 


^TsOUTHENREGONALLBRARYACLTY 


A  A      000024787    4 


